VI 



accumulated observation, were in more than one direction at that 

 time entirely lacking; sources now broadly open to all were then, 

 so far as they at all existed, accessible to none other than the pro- 

 fessional botanist; new fields prolific in unimagined forms were 

 all around us, but for long time we were entirely dependent upon 

 our older brothers beyond the sea (with whom correspondence was 

 frequently in a foreign tongue), for information and knowledge, 

 which is now the privilege of the beginner. 



It is not then strange that the first enumeration of Rhode Island 

 plants contained but one-third as many as we note in the following 

 list, which itself contains, it is believed, but little more than the 

 half of those species which grow without cultivation within our 

 borders. 



This Catalogue is prepared at the suggestion of and under the 

 auspices of the Providence Franklin Society, and forms a portion 

 of its published proceedings. It has in large measure been com- 

 piled for a number of years, but for many reasons its issue has 

 postponed; yet we trust that the larger field which it conse- 

 quently covers will make amends for the delay, especially as we 

 are thereby enabled to add several hundred species. 



The list could have been never made, certainly not to embrace 

 so much of the field which it aims to cover, without kindly and 

 very generous aid of many friends, all of whom will understand, 

 we trust, that whether their names appear in its pages or not, the 

 sense of obligation is here fully acknowledged and thankfully 

 remembered. 



It would be impossible to mention all those who have in various 

 ways, by advice or suggestion or information, contributed to any 

 measure of success attained, yet it were unworthy not to acknowl- 

 edge an indebtedness, for many years in common with every bot- 

 anist, to him who for so long time was "/aciie princeps'''' of botanists, 

 and kindliest of men; on whom we were in so many ways depend- 



