1864.] 337 [James. 



plants as had become naturalized, or were cultivated for useful pur- 

 poses, but it became apparent that the still lower orders, especially 

 the Fungi, which are so multitudinous, would render the volume 

 inconveniently large. 



Of this work, we have the highest authority for asserting that it is 

 " one of the best local Floras ever written." It has become a hand- 

 book for all lovers of the "amiable science" in his native State, and 

 the clear and minutely accurate descriptions of the plants enumera- 

 ted, will always render it a valuable assistant to the botanist. 



Dr. Darlington was so strongly impres.'jed with the great importance 

 of a knowledge of botany, to almost all classes of the community, 

 that he let no opportunity pass without expatiating upon its advan- 

 tages; he regarded its utility great, in reference to mental discipline, 

 intellectual qualification, and practical usefulness. He seemed to 

 think it impossible for any one endowed with the common attributes 

 of humanity to avoid being, to a partial extent, at least, a naturalist; 

 in his opinion, no education could be deemed complete without some 

 acquaintance with the rudiments or first principles of botanical sci- 

 ence, some rational knowledge of the multiform creation around us, 

 known as the Vegetable Kingdom. To the agriculturist, he consi- 

 dered such information indispensable; and with these views, he com- 

 piled and published, in 1847, an x\gricultural Botany, an enumeration 

 and description of the useful plants and weeds which merit the notice 

 or require the attention of American farmers. The beneficial influ- 

 ence of the circulation of this useful volume in Chester County is 

 evident from the disappearance of those pestiferous weeds which have 

 followed the footsteps of civilization from the old world to the new. 

 In compiling this work, he found it somewhat difficult to determine, 

 satisfactorily, the line of demarcation between plants entitled to a 

 place, and those which might properly be omitted ; but it must be 

 admitted that he has happily succeeded in the selection of plants for 

 the object he had in view. 



In 1819 Dr. Darlington opened a correspondence with the veteran 

 botanist. Prof. De Candolle, of Geneva, and sent him a package of 

 American plants, which procured him a polite return, and doubtless, 

 in 18*24, the honor of a genus dedicated to his name; this genus was 

 afterwards found, by Mr. Bentham, to be a Dismanthus, and so it 

 was cancelled. 



Many years later, Dr. Torrey, unwilling that the labors of this 

 Nestor of American botanists should not be suitably commemorated, 



VOL. IX. — 2t 



