INTRODUCTORY DISCOURSE. 33 



enterprising botanists, may justly be considered as among the most im- 

 portant contribntions which the natural history of North America has 

 received. The Botanical garden established in the vicinity of this city 

 by dr. Hosaek, contaias seven hundred and thirty-three genera, and two 

 thousand four hundred species of plants : it was purchased by the state 

 ia 1810, and recently presented to Columbia college : it is to be hoped 

 that this valuable institution will prosper under its new proprietors, and 

 that a profesorship of botany will be connected with it. Dr. Muhlen- 

 burg of Lancaster, an eminent botanist, has lately published an account 

 of the native and naturalized plants of America according to the Linnaean 

 system ; which includes eight hundred and sixty-three genera, and their 

 corresponding species. 



It has already become difficult to discriminate between our native and 

 naturalized plants; with the progress of time the difficulty will increase, 

 and it ought to be removed as soon as possible. From the vegetable 

 kingdom man derives his principal food and medicine, and it administers 

 to his wants and luxury in a variety of shapes. The botanist ought to 

 attend to the substitution of indigenous medicines, of equal efficacy, to 

 those imported; and also to the discovery of others whose qualities are 

 no\v unknown, as applicable to the cure of diseases : he ought also to 

 direct his attention to the discovery of indigenous esculents ; and of arti- 

 cles for dying, soap, lights, and other branches of domestic economy. 

 America has furnished maize, or Indian corn, which may be compared 

 with the best of the cereal gramina of the old world ; she has also origi- 

 nated the potato, which has administered more to human subsistence 

 than any other production whatever. There are probably other undis- 

 covered legumens and gramiua which may essentially contribute to the 

 comfort and support of mankind. It is said that there is a natural mea- 

 dow of vast extent in the Michigan Territory, which abounds with wild 

 potatoes and artichokes ; it would certainly be worth while to ascertain 

 whether they are the real solanum tuberosum, and helianthus tubero- 

 sus.(32) All the indians of the northwest have, according to Pike, A 

 species of wild oats for their only farinaceous food : we would rather 

 suppose it to fee a species of rice, as it is an aquatic plant ; and if each 

 stalk produces, as it is stated, half a pint of grain, it is undoubtedly au 

 object deserving of attention.(33) Lewi.-? and Clarke have pointed out 

 several vegetables unknown to us, which the indians use. These and 

 many other sources of inquiry are open to us. The discovery of a new 

 plant gives celebrity to a botanist ; and, if useful to mankind, his fame is 

 immeasureably enlarged. Before I conclude this subject, permit roe to 

 inquire whether the cypripedium bulbosum has ever been seen in this 

 country ? I ask this question, because Acerbi, in his Travels, has made 

 the following observations respecting it : 



" To mr. Cnstrien science is indebted for the discovery of a fa- 



E 



