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172 Biography of F, A, Micliaux. 



inquiries Michaux had obtained a most extensive collection of 

 curious and important facts, which rather belonging to the appli- 

 cation of botany than to botany itself^ are nevertheless essential 

 to the complete knowledge of the plants of the United States; 

 for, besides the commercial and practical uses of our trees, we 

 have a verv perfect account of the inflorescencej fructification, 

 growth and botanical habit of them individually considered, as 

 also many interesting facts with regard to them taken together 

 as comj)Osing forests." 



In a letter, dated October, 1852, addressed through Mr. Isaac 

 Lea, to the President of the American Philosophical Society, 

 Michaux expresses himself in the following words, with regard 

 to his Sylva Americana: "The science of botany was the princi- 

 pal object of my father's explorations in ISTorth America, and 

 the Flora Bar call- Americana was the result of those explorations. 

 As for me, I took another view of the vegetable kingdom, whilst 

 in your country — a view more limited and less scientific, it is 

 true; but, perhaps, more generally profitable to the farmer and 

 / land-holder, as Avell as to that class of society, so numerous in the 

 Northern States of the Union, who employ wood in so many 

 different ways. I do not consider my Sylva Americana as com- 

 plete as it might be: thus, for instance, I have omitted several 

 species which gro^y in lower Lousiana, and in the two Floridas. 

 In the second place I have described and figured some trees that 

 are deficient in the flowers and in the fruits. Had circumstances 

 permitted, I would have returned to the United States, and, in 

 a new edition have corrected the errors, and filled up the omis- 

 sions, I should thus have been able to present to the American 

 nation, a work worthy of her great name, but now that I have 

 arrived at a very advanced age, nearly 83 years, I can do noth- 

 ing more, in this respect, than to express my regrets, and the 

 hope that some native arboriculturist may complete my researches 

 on the plan which I have adopted. The publication of such a 

 work would be attended witli much benefit to the country, and 

 afford particular honor to him who would undertake it." 



After the appearance of his great work, Michaux devoted 

 all his attention to his favorite pursuits — the cultivation and 

 propagation of trees, presenting a special object of public utility. 

 Intrusted with the administration of a large estate belonging to 

 the Central Society of Agriculture; experimenting largely in 

 sylviculture on the extensive plantations of Mr. Dolamarre, and 

 owning himself a country place near Pontoise, he never ceased 

 until his death, to be actively employed in experiments on arbo- 

 riculture, either suggested by himself or others. 



Michaux had retained in this country a few correspondent 

 who sent him occasionally new supplies of seeds, and through a 

 letter furnished by one of Ihese gentleman, I had the gratification 

 to become acquainted with him in the autumn of 1824v 



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