56 PENH ALLOW ON" 



tribiition through careful observation of their dimensions and predominance in different 

 parts of the country. It was the elaboration of this idea that largely led him in so many 

 directions, and over so wide a range of territory. 



In pursuance of his object, Michaux, accompanied by a gardener as assistant, reached 

 New York on October 1st, 1*785. "With this city as his head quarters, the first seven years 

 of his work were directed to an exploration of the southern states as far as Florida, 

 and during that time he gathered a rich harvest of material. In 1792, he carried into 

 execution his plans for a visit to Canada. Proceeding by way of Saratoga and Lake 

 Champlain, he reached Montreal on June 30th, and Quebec on July 16th. From this latter 

 place as a rendezvous, he at once prepared for his projected journey into the interior. 

 Visiting Montmorency, Lorette and Tadousac, he proceeded by way of the Saguenay to 

 Lakes St. John and Mistassiui, and thence towards Hudson Bay, through an unbroken 

 wilderness. The unwillingness of his guides, however, to face the dangers and hardships 

 of the winter then close at hand, compelled him to turn back after reaching the Rupert 

 Kiver. It was to this journey that we owe our knowledge of the pretty little primrose 

 which Michaux named in memory of Lake Mistassini, Primula Mistassinica. 



Among the most important results of this expedition, was a determination of the 

 northern limits of distribution of many of our well known forest trees. Michaux's diary 

 is also replete with notes concerning the climate and the vegetable products of all the 

 districts visited by him. Returning as he went, he took his final departure from Canada 

 on the approach of winter, reaching Philadelphia on December 8th. Though only five 

 months in Canada, his mission was most fruitful of results to Canadian botany, and to him 

 we owe, not only the earliest determinations relative to northern limits of distribution, 

 but also the names of a very large number of our forest trees, as well as many of our 

 smaller plants. 



Michaux is known less by his writings than by his collections, yet he has left one or 

 two works which remain monuments to his zealous industry. His " History of the North 

 American Oaks " was published in 1801, the last publication before his death, which 

 occurred in the following year. His notes and collections, however, served as the basis 

 of his " Flora Boreali- Americana," which was published by the eminent botanist, Claude 

 Louis Richard, in 1803, — a work containing descriptions of 1,700 plants with illustrations. 

 More plants of our flora owe their names to him than to any other botanist of the period, 

 except Linnœus. 



In his "Flora Boreali-Americana " ' Hooker, speaking of botanical work previously 

 accomplished in North America, says : — " These labours had been performed mainly by 

 British naturalists, from the days of Newenham and Menzies, to those of Beechy and the 

 officers attached to the Hudson's Bay Company's factories." The reference here made to 

 Newenham, is not easy to understand, although there must have been good reasons 

 for the introduction of the name of one who was apparently contemporary with Menzies. 

 A thorough search has nevertheless failed to discover any trace of such a botanist ; while 

 by advice from the Royal Gardens at Kew, we are informed that they are equally at loss 

 to understand the reference. Similar application to the Botanic Gardens of Harvard 

 University has also resulted in obtaining no trace of him. The only conclusion which 



' Preface, iv. 



