PREFACE. IX 



Brownne. Mr. Louis Menard, also, has pointed out to me the localities of various in- 

 teresting plants. In addition to all these sources, I have availed myself of information 

 received in former years from other botanists who have explored various parts of the State, 

 among whom I would mention the following : Major J. Le Conte, William Cooper, 

 Esq.; Abraham Halsey, Esq. ; the late Caspar W. Eddy, M. D., and Dr. Mitchell, 

 who collected plants growing around New- York : and Professor Hadley of Geneva, Prof. 

 AiKiN, the late Professor Eaton, Dr. J. Eights, Prof. L. C. Beck, and Dr. J. Crawe, who 

 favored me with many rare and interesting plants, chiefly from the northern and western 

 counties. Very important aid, in examining the botany of the Highlands, has been 

 rendered by J. Barratt, M. D., who spent several years in that region, and most liberally 

 supplied me with specimens and critical observations. 



The Survey of the State had been in progress about two and a half years, before a painter 

 was engaged for the botanical department ; a delay that was owing to the diflSculty of 

 obtaining a competent artist. The original plan with regard to the illustrations, was to 

 have figured all the plants which are useful in medicine and the arts, besides most of the 

 ornamental, new, and rare species, and such as were otherwise possessed of interest. 

 Before the work was completed, however, it was found that this plan could not be carried 

 into effect, both on account of the expense, and the time required to procure all the 

 drawings. Many of the earlier drawings were executed by Miss Agnes Mitchell, the 

 remainder by Miss Elizabeth Pooley, with the exception of a few that were done by Mr. 

 SwiNTON. These are all very respectable artists, but they were unaccustomed to make 

 dissections of plants. The lithography was executed at the office of Mr. George Endicott. 

 This style of illustration is certainly not so well suited for botanical objects as engraving, 

 but was adopted on account of its great economy. Most of the plates are faithful copies of 

 the original drawings, and are very creditable to the gentleman to whose care this pait 

 of the work was committed. 



As regards the typography, I am greatly indebted for its accuracy to the compositor and 

 proofreader, Mr. John Patterson, of the State Printing-ofllice in Albany, who has had the 

 principal charge of this part of the labor. 



JOHN TORREY. 



New- York, December, 1842. • 



[Flora.] bb 



