CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN 
FLORA! — 
Wuen the British Association, with much painstaking, 
honors and gratifies the cultivators of science on this side of 
the ocean by meeting on American soil, it is but seemly that 
a corresponding member for the third of a century should 
endeavor to manifest his interest in the occasion and to render 
some service, if he can, to his fellow-naturalists in Section D. 
I would attempt to do so by pointing out, in a general way, 
some of the characteristic features of the vegetation of the 
country which they have come to visit, — a country of “ mag- 
nificent distances,” but of whigh some vistas may be had by 
those who can use the facilities which are offered for enjoying 
them. Even to those who cannot command the time for dis- 
tant excursions, and to some who may know little or nothing 
of botany, the sketch which I offer may not be altogether un- 
interesting. But I naturally address myself to the botanists 
of the Association, to those who, having crossed the wide At- 
lantic, are now invited to proceed westward over an almost 
equal breadth of land; some, indeed, have already journeyed 
to the Pacifie coast, and have returned ; and not a few, it is 
hoped, may accept the invitation to Philadelphia, where a 
warm welcome awaits them — warmth of hospitality, rather 
than of summer temperature, let us hope ; but Philadelphia is 
proverbial for both. There opportunities may be afforded for 
a passing acquaintance with the botany of the Atlantic border 
of the United States, in company with the botanists of the 
American Association, who are expected to muster in full 
force. 
What may be asked of me, then, is to portray certain out- 
1 An Address to the Botanists of the British Association for the Ad- 
vancement of Science at Montreal; read to the Biological Section, Au- 
gust 29, 1884. (American Journal of Science and Arts, 3 ser., xxviii 
323.) 
