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shores of the Atlantic to the waves of the Pacific, this 

 mightj section of the continent, embraces every clime 

 and every variety of soil, teeming with innumerable 

 specimens of the vegetable kingdom, in all the luxu- 

 riance of their primeval and unexplored domains. 



Catesby, Pursh, Michaux, Mulenburg, Bigelow, 

 Nuttall, Eliot, Torrey, Golden, Bartram, Barton, 

 Hosack, Mitchell, Darlington, Ives, Dewey, Hitch- 

 cock, 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 example, assiduously fostered a taste for 

 cultivation, and successfully promoted developments, 

 in all the various branches of rural economy. As 

 pioneers in the science and art of Agriculture or gar- 

 dening, their services have been invaluable ; and 

 while most of them still live to behold the rapid and 

 extensive progress of their cherished pursuits, the im- 

 portant results of their experiments, and the gladden- 

 ing influence of their beneficent labors, their names 

 will be ever held in grateful remembrance, as distin- 

 guished benefactors of their country. 



Enlightened by their instructions, and roused by 

 their manly enthusiasm, let us zealously imitate their 

 commendable efforts, and endeavor to render our in- 

 stitution as beneficial, in its practical operations, as 

 it is cheering, in theoretical promise. 



