THE PALE LAUREL. 87 



evergreen foliage. The American Laurel gets its generic name 

 Kalmia from Linnaeus in honor of a friend and pupil, a Swedish 

 botanist by the name of Peter Kalm, who travelled extensively in 

 this country, in the middle of the last century, and sent specimens 

 of the plant to him. 



"Kalm," says Prof. Meehan, "was no common man. He was 

 born in Finland in 1715, and was destined for the church; but after 

 attending a course of lectures by Linnaeus, he determined to devote 

 his whole life to the study of natural history. He was subse- 

 quently elected Professor of Economy in the University of Abo, 

 which, until its destruction by fire, and removal to Helsingfors in 

 1827, was one of the leading centres of learning in the north of 

 Europe. The Royal Swedish Academy desired to send some one 

 to explore the northern parts of the American continent, believing 

 from the similarity of the climate that much good would result to 

 Swedish Agriculture, and the kindred arts and sciences; and on the 

 recommendation of Linnaeus, Prof. Kalm was selected and a practi- 

 cal gardener detailed to accompany him. He reached Philadelphia 

 in September, 1748. He went in 1749 through New Jersey, and 

 along the Hudson to Albany, thence across Lakes George and 

 Champlain to Canada. Returning again to winter in Philadel- 

 phia, the next year he explored western Pennsylvania, the Blue 

 Mountains, and the coast of New Jersey; and went again through 

 New York to Niagara Falls, returning to Philadelphia in October." 

 All this was no small undertaking in a country then almost entirely 

 an unbroken and trackless wilderness; and Kalm had many peril- 

 ous adventures. 



Though the genus is dedicated to Kalm it was known before 

 his day, for we are assured by Prof. Meehan, Banister, an early 



