IN NORTH AMERICA. 19 



Doctor Fothergill, in his memoir of Peter Collinson, a. d. 

 1769, says : " that eminent naturalist, John Bartram, may almost 

 be said to have been created such by my friend's [P. C.'s] assistance; 

 he first recommended the collecting of seeds, and afterwards assisted 

 in disposing of them in this country [England], and constantly 

 excited him to persevere in investigating the plants of America, 

 which he has executed with indefatigable labour through a long 

 course of years, and with amazing success." 



John Bartram, also, at the request of some naturalists in 

 Europe, instituted and satisfactorily conducted a series of experi- 

 ments on the Lychnis dioica illustrative of the doctrine of the 

 sexes of plants, and corroborative of those previously made upon 

 the Indian corn {Zea Mays), by James Logan, the distinguished 

 friend and secretary of the founder of our Commonwealth. 



Mark Catesby, in 1732, published the first volume of his Natural 

 History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahamas; and the second 

 volume appeared in 174-3. The work was in large folio, with 

 coloured plates, and, for that day, was a magnificent performance, 

 though its botanical merits were not quite equal to its pretensions. 



In 1739, the publication of the first systematic enumeration of 

 North American plants was commenced at Leyden, in Holland, 

 under the title of Flora Virginica. It was edited by the learned 

 Professor Gronovius, from specimens and descriptions furnished 

 by that excellent pioneer of American Botany, John Clayton, 

 of Virginia, who is entitled to more of the credit, due to that work, 

 than has been generally awarded to him.* 



About this time, that able and sagacious botanist, Doctor Cad- 

 wallader Colden, of New York, began to pay attention to the 

 Natural History of that province ; and for a number of years, he 

 continued to observe, collect, and describe the indigenous plants in 

 the interesting region around his residence, at Coldenham, near 



of the kind in this western world, and exceedingly interesting, from its history and 

 associations, one might almost hope, even in this utilitarian age, that, if no 

 motive more commendable could avail, a feeling of state or city pride, would be 

 sufficient to ensure its preservation, in its original character, and for the sake of 

 its original objects. But, alas ! there seems to be too much reason to apprehend 

 that it will scarcely survive the immediate family of its noble-hearted founder, 

 and that even the present generation may live to see the accumulated treasures 

 of a century laid waste with all the once gay parterres and lovely borders con- 

 verted into lumber-yards and coal-landings. 



* Peter Collixsox, in 1764, styles him my friend John Clayton, the great 

 botanist of America.'' 



