which have hitlierto been diprovcrcd, nnd dcsciihcd as indijrcnons to the New 

 England States and New York, tomtlicr witli the naturalized exotics, and lliose 

 which are more generally cultivated, either as useful or ornamental. The 

 descriptions arc as extended and minute as appears to the author necessary for 

 the complete recognition of the ])lants, and for imparting a knowledge of what- 

 ever is peculiar or interesting in their hahits, culture, or use. 



With regard to the sources of information from which this pnrt of the work 

 has been i)rcpared, it is proper to state, that I have for several years been 

 engaged in the collection of materials, during which I liave made frequent and 

 extensive tours with this object in view, in nearly every section of country wliich 

 this riora represents; and have had access to many extensive collections of 

 plants, among which I mention with jieculiar pleasure that of Mr. Ahel StokkS, 

 of Lebanon, N. H. By these means I have been able to draw the description of 

 about three fourths of the species mentioned in the work from the living or dried 

 specimen. The remaining descriptions arc compiled from a careful examination 

 and comparison of the best autliorities within my reach, among which arc the 

 botanical works of Bigelow, Faton, Wright, Nuttall, Pursh, Smith, ToiTcy (his 

 Northern Flora), Beck, Loudon, Barton, Michaux, Parlington, Dewey, &c., &c. 

 To the elaborate and liighly authentic Flora of Drs. Torrey and Gray, I had 

 no access until after the present Flora had been written : since which time I have 

 availed myself of their researches in regard to the nomenclature of plants, suc- 

 cession of the Orders, and recent discoveries. In almost all cases, I have adopted 

 their generic and specific names, for very obvious reasons. The multitude of 

 synonyms, by which plants have been heretofore designated, have greatly encum- 

 bered the science, and are to be regarded as an evil and only an evil. If we 

 then have a standard work on North American Botany, written by North Ameri- 

 can authors, as we most cer:ainly have, it is absurd for Inimblcr writers to strive 

 to perpetuate this useless jargon of names. Beyond Order LXXVJ, to which 

 only their work as yet extends, I have adopted those names which, in my own 

 judgment, rest upon the best authority. 



There arc two serious evils existing in the treatises in more general use, which 

 liavc too long checked the diffusion of botanical knowledge. First, the princi- 

 ples of the science arc reduced to such a degree of simplicity as to sacrifice all 

 incentive to intellectual effort, save memory alone : and, secondly, the application 

 of the principles in practical analysis is often involved in such obscurity that no 

 degree of intellectual effort is of any avail. In the following jiages I have 

 guarded against both these evils as much as possible. With regard to the latter, 

 it is hoped that the Analytical Tables will be found of essential sen-ice. The 

 object aimed at in their construction, is, to exhibit at one view the most striking 

 characteristics of each group, to which they respectively relate, so arranged as to 

 conduct the mind from a single radiatins point, to any desired genus described in 

 the volume. That we have fully realized this plan, or that the t.ables are free 

 from error, is not to be expected ; yet we do hope that they will aflbrd facilities 

 for analysis far greater than any system hitherto available. 



In t!ic construction of these tables I have received indis]icns.'ible aid from 

 Dk. Edward E. 1'iieli'S, of Windsor, Vt., Lecturer on Jledical Botany, in 



