PERBY — BOTANICAL COLLECTION. 279 



mens of several varieties of oaks and hickories, wliich lie had 

 gathered at Woodlawn. It was a subject of much regret that 

 Dr. Parrj was not able to be present on account of illness. 



At a meeting of the Trustees held October 4th, 1878, a series of regula- 

 tions relative to the assignment of rooms in the Academy building was 

 adopted. 



October 28th, 1878.— Regular Meeting* 

 Dr. R. J. Farquharson, President, in the chair. 

 Thirtv-two members and visitors present. 

 The President reported the actions of the Trustees during the 

 month past, and presented the following letter from Dr. Parry, 

 giving an account of the botanical collection which he has depos- 

 ited in the botanical room of the Academy. 



To the Trustees of Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences .' 



Gentlemen :— Your courteous invitatiou to deposit my botanical coh 

 lection in the commodious room of the Academy assigned to that depart- 

 ment, has been complied with, so far as the incomplete arrangement of 

 the material, mainly the result of more than thirty years' active fleld 

 work, would allow. 



It may be proper in this connection to state briefly the character of 

 this collection, and the principal sources from which it has been derived. 



My earliest gatherings in the botanical field were begun in 1843, while 

 residing in the attractive floral district of North-Eastern New York, and 

 continued more or less actively for five years, while occupied in a course 

 of medical studies. During this interval I spent o*ie season in Central 

 New York, including a trip to Niagara Falls. The two last years of this 

 period was especially memorable by being favored with the personal 

 acquaintance of the distinguished American Botanist, Dr. John Torrey. 

 to whose assistance and encouragement, equally shared by nearly all 

 active American botanists of this generation, I am largely indebted for 

 whatever success I may have attained. 



In the fall of 1846 I removed to Davenport, Iowa, and the season fol- 

 lowing (1847) I was actively engaged in securing the flora of this district, 

 including a summer excursion to Central Iowa, in the vicinity of the 

 present State Capital, Des Moines, with a United States land surveying 

 party, under the charge of Lieut. J. Morehead. 



In 1848 I was connected with Dr. D. D, Owen's geological survey of 

 the North- West, making botanical collections along the course of the St. 

 Peters River and up the St, Croix as far as Lake Superior. A list of the 



