'PREFACE. 



' ' - -.;'* ' f ' . - 



It gives me pleasure to be able also to introduce in this connection the 

 name of Dr. JAMES W. KOBBINS, a name long since enrolled among 

 American botanists. Our Flora has been recently in part reviewed by 

 him ; and he has communicated to me, in relation to this work, the results 

 of his extensive and accurate observations, as will be seen by the frequent 

 recurrence of his name in the following pages. 



Grateful acknowledgments are also due to Dr. JOSEPH BARRATT. He 

 lias kindly communicated his unequalled monograph of the willows, " Sali- 

 ces American* ;" also that of the " Eupatoria verticillata ;" both of which, 

 abridged, I have adopted in this work. 



Among other friends and correspondents, from whom I have received 

 specimens and highly valuable information, and ,whose kindness will be 

 held by me in most grateful remembrance, are the following : viz. Dr. AL- 

 BERT G. SKINNER and Dr. JOHN PLUMMER, Indiana; Dr. SAMUEL B. 

 MEAD and Rev. E. JENNEY, Illinois; Mr. WM. S. SULLIVANT, Professor 

 LOCKE, and Mr. JOSEPH CLARK, Ohio; Dr. I. A. LAPHAM, Wisconsin ; 

 Dr. WM. DARLINGTON, Pennsylvania; President HITCHCOCK, Professor 

 ASA GRAY, and Dr. AUGUSTUS A, GOULD, Massachusetts; Mr. TRU- 

 MAN RICKARD, New Hampshire; Dr. SARTWELL and Mr. BROWNNE, 

 New York; Mr. S. T. OLNEY, Rhode Island; &c. &c. 



In the -present edition, a chapter on the principles of Agricultural 

 Chemistry has been added to the " Elements," and some important altera- 

 tions introduced. The Flora has been to a great extent rewritten, and 

 enlarged, not only by the addition of such plants as were necessary to 

 adapt it to a wider section of country, as mentioned above, but by many 

 ^plants recently discovered within our former limits. At the end is appended 

 a synoptical view of the lower orders of the Cryptogamia, with their gen- 

 era ; and the whole is now illustrated with numerous engravings. 



Finally, the present work is again submitted to the public with the assur- 

 ance that, on the part of the author, it shall still be his constant care to 

 detect and rectify its imperfections in future editions ; and with the earnest 

 hope that his labors may serve to awaken in the minds of others as deep 

 an interest in this branch of the study of Nature as they have done in 

 his own. 



The author still solicits communications from his numerous readers concern- 

 ing their difficulties or discoveries in this pursuit, and is always especially 

 grateful for notices of new or rare species, or for specimens of such, wherever 

 found. Please address him at Ohio Female Colkge, College Hill, (near Cincin- 

 nati^ O. 



