vi 
accumulated observation, were in more than one ansehen 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 ina 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 anumber 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 ‘‘ facile princeps’’ of botanists, 
and kindliest of men; on whom we were in so many ways depend- 
