Section IV, ISSY. [ 45 ] Trans. Roy. Soc. Canada. 



V. — A JRevieic of Canadian Botany from the First Settlement of New France to the 

 Nineteenth Century. Part I. By D. P. Penhallow. 



(Read May 26, 1887.) 



So far as we are aware, no attempt has yet been made to bring together iu connected 

 form, the more important facts relating to the development of botanical science iu Canada. 

 To the active botanist, the desirability of such a work being undertaken and executed, is 

 frequently apparent, more especially as our general knowledge of the earlier botanists is 

 far too meagre and scattered. The present paper has been prepared, therefore, with a view 

 to meeting this want. As the first two hundred and sixty odd years in the history of this 

 country constituted a period of very slow scientific progress, and as with the commence- 

 ment of the present century, an era of great activity was opened, the year 1800 offers a 

 natural and fitting division in the consideration of our svibject. The present paper deals 

 with the progress made up to that year, though certain publications are noted, even when 

 their date is a few years later, because they are the last works of men who properly be- 

 longed to, and who really accomplished their labors in the period preceding the date stated. 

 Thus, Michaux's "Flora Boreali- Americana," published in 1803, is properly included here. 

 As André Michaux and Menzies closed the history of the first period, so did F. A. 

 Michaux and Pursh begin the second period — a period rich in discovery, and remarkable for 

 botanical progress, and which will be dealt with separately in a subsequent paper. 



In the list of explorers, missionaries and naturalists, appended to this paper, an effort 

 has been made to give correct biographical data. This has not been altogether possible 

 in a few instances, but, from numerous verifications, we believe the data, so i'ar as given, 

 to be correct. In the list of writings appended to each name, we have inchaded all such 

 as have a direct or indirect reference to the Canadian flora. And, although not entitled to 

 any claims as botanists, we have thought it best to include the works of Jefferys, Denis, 

 Weld, Hearne and one or two others, as they pretend to give an account of the natural 

 history of the country. This, however, at least so far as the botany is concerned, is often 

 dealt with very briefly, and in a most unsatisfactory manner. 



In the preparation of this paper, we are greatly indebted to Mr. Gerald E. Hart, for 

 access to his very valuable library of works on the early history of Canada. We would 

 also express our obligations to Messrs. Ti. W. Boodle, J. Reade and S. E. Dawson, for valu- 

 able suggestions ; likewise to Prof. Sereno Watson, of Cambridge, Mass., to Mr. D. Morris, 

 of Kew, and to Rev. E. I. Rexford and Mr. St. Cyr, of Quebec, for valuable assistance in 

 verifying data. Among the works of reference to which we have hud access, special men- 

 tion should be made of several valuable manuscripts on Canadian history by Bibaud " le 

 jeune," kindly placed at our disposal by the Librarian of the Fraser Institute. 



One of the first and most striking facts the student encounters, is the very great 

 paucity of botanical works, prior to the present century, which can be regarded as in any 

 sense Canadian. During a period of two hundred and sixty-five years, the total number 



