17 



and place them, by means of ladders, over those of the female 

 trees, which are very lofty. If this is not done the pollen does 

 not reach the stigmas, and there is no fruit. This practice, 

 however, does not derogate from the honor due to the scientific 

 Knight, to whom we are unquestionably indebted for that valu- 

 able discovery, by which new varieties of every species of fruit 

 and flower may be infinitely multiplied. 



Having been so long dependent upon our transatlantic colabo- 

 rators, it now becomes a duty, to attempt a reciprocation of the 

 numerous benefits we have received ; and by emulating their 

 zeal, intelligence, and experimental industry, we must develope 

 the resources of our own country, which offers such an extensive, 

 interesting, and prolific field of research to the adventurous 

 naturalist. Many of the most useful and magnificent acquisi- 

 tions of the groves, fields, gardens, and conservatories of Europe, 

 are natives of the Western hemisphere. The indigenous forest- 

 trees, ornamental shrubs, flowers, fruits, and edible vegetables of 

 North America are remarkable for their variety, size, splendor, 

 and value. Extending from the Polar regions to those of the 

 tropics, and from the shores of the Atlantic to the waves of the 

 Pacific, this mighty section of the continent, embraces every 

 clime and every variety of soil, teeming with innumerable speci- 

 mens of the vegetable kingdom, in all the luxuriance of their 

 primeval and unexplored domains. 



Catesby, Pursh, Michaux, Mulenburg, Bigelow, Nuttall, Eliot, 

 Torrey, Golden, Bartram, Barton, Hosack, Mitchell, Darlington, 

 Ives, Dewey, Hitchcock, and Short, have rendered themselves 

 illustrious, as disciples of Botany, by traversing our immense 

 forests, mountains, and prairies, and exploring the borders of our 

 mighty rivers and lakes in quest of additions to the Flora of the 

 United States. 



Peters, Hosack, Lowell, Perkins, McMahon, Cox, Dean, 

 Thacher, Adlum, Powel, and Buel, have, by precept and ex- 

 ample, assiduously fostered a taste for cultivation, and success- 

 fully promoted developments, in all the various branches of 

 3 



