INTRODUCTION. 



After many years of active researches in 

 the continent of North America, I was medi- 

 tating to write a new Flora of it ; but was long 

 dubious in what form to produce it. To enu- 

 merate and describe all the plants of this vast 

 region in a proper form and natural classifica- 

 tion, would be a very acceptable labor, but a 

 very arduous task, to which, altho' I felt quite 

 competent, it was not possible to think of, ow- 

 ing to the expense of it, particularly if many 

 figures were given. All our Botanists have 

 shrunk from this undertaking, except Hooker 

 in his Flora of Canada and Boreal America, 

 now publishing by the help of patronage. Zeal 

 alone does not avail in this as in collecting, 

 other pecuniary means are required. 



It has been found more practicable and near- 

 ly as useful by our Botanists to publish abridg- 

 ed Floras on the Ijinnean plan, of which Mi- 

 chaux and Pursh gave the example; while Nut- 

 tall, Torrey, Eaton, Beck, &.c. have followed 

 nearly the same path. Elliot alone has some- 

 what enlarged his labor, and produced a most 

 egregious work. 



None but such condensed or compiled works 

 on our Botany, have been found acceptable to 

 all and saleable; while the elaborate and learn- 

 ed works, full of discoveries and ample re- 

 searches, can only be appreciated by a few, and 

 even often excite the envy of the learned ri- 

 vals. 



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