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- Opportunities or discoveries 
Miscellanies. 181 
always been regarded with a lively interest. They have, at various times, 
attracted hither a number of botanists from the old world, who have 
reaped a rich harvest of discovery. in our forests, on our mountains and 
prairies, and along the margins of our almost interminable rivers. A few 
of our own countrymen have also rendered important aid in making 
known the character and extent of our vegetable treasures. Their 
labors, however, have been, for the most part, restricted to the production 
of partial or local Floras, highly peace indeed, so far as they ex- 
tended, and furnishing valuable materials for a more comprehensive 
work ; but still, they were severally limited i in their scope, and, of neces- 
sity, incomplete in their contents. The materials thus existing in de- 
tached masses, and scattered through numerous volumes, eigictt the 
plastic operation of some master hand, to reduce them into one 
body, and give to all the parts their appropriate “ form and oem? 
It was exceedingly important, that whoever might undertake to prepare a 
North American Flora, should be thoroughly acquainted with the labors 
of preceding botanists; and, by consulting their collections, as far as 
practicable, be competent to detect their errors, adjust their discrep- 
ancies, and determine their various synonyms. We consider it, there- 
fore, asubject of felicitation, that: the work -has fallen. into the present 
hauda as being confessedly those among the best qualified for the task, 
in our country ; and we rely with confidence upon their receiving the 
ous cooperation and encouragement of every lover of the Science of 
Plants. We cannot for a moment doubt, that every American botanist 
will eagerly avail himself of the occasion to possess a complete Flora of 
our widely extended continent ; and we should fondly hope, that every 
liberal cultivator of science in our land, would be happy in the opportuni- 
ty to patronize so commendable an effort to enhance the national repu- 
tation. 
‘The authors of this Flora have, of course, adopted the natural system, 
tific arrangement of 
Gece inthe 
present state of the science. _ 
- By issuing the work in parts, or siusibend some ad vantages will I 
cured, which would otherwise be unattainable. The natural fe 
being complete, even in those detached numbers, the botanists in various 
parts of our country will have leisure to examine and verify the particu- 
lars of each, Gonna. the course of the publication; and thus may suggest, 
in due time for a iz, (which must ever accompany works on a 
progressive scien ch h corrections, modifications, or additions, as their 
é shall enable them to make. In this way, 
much valuable aid may be furnished to the authors, and the Flora render- 
ed more perfect and comprehensive, without occasioning any material 
o delay in its final completion. 
