4 John Mallory Bates 



exchange or gift, but such sheets are not recognized in these notes. 

 There is no unnecessary repetition. Several fine species or varie- 

 ties are represented by only one sheet in the Seminar collection 

 and it is very difficult now to ascertain the exact locality of col- 

 lection, that we may mend this condition. I hope this revision and 

 publication will stimulate such inquiry among those who live at 

 these various stations. The last full catalog of the state Flora 

 (1889) gave us 39 species of sedges, six of which have never 

 been found in the state, so far as our specimens indicate. A few 

 others have since been found that were then only accredited by 

 the manuals. I now show in this bulletin 103 species, varieties 

 and forms worthy of description ; 42 of which are reached before 

 we come to Carex, 61 in Carex alone. This is a most encourag- 

 ing showing, and I hope that the next twenty-three years may be 

 equally fruitful. I confidently assert that not one thousandth part 

 of Nebraska has been studied by any critical student of this group. 

 What then may we not expect for our state when its survey shall 

 have been more nearly completed ! 



It is interesting to compare our findings with those of Iowa 

 on the east of the Missouri River. TJie Iowa Sedges issued in 

 1898 by R. I. Cratty, a most creditable production, enumerates 114 

 species and varieties. Mr. Cratty writes me that six more should 

 now be included, making 120 in all. This does not mean that 

 Iowa has 17 more species than Nebraska, but rather that its plants 

 have been studied much longer and more thoroughly. It suggests 

 to us that we must explore our great and productive territory be- 

 fore a denser population and more intensive cultivation destroy 

 and radically change our native flora. 



I have no doubt that errors of judgment will be found in this 

 bulletin. In my second revision of these sedges just before writ- 

 ing, I made several changes in identification. Another revision 

 might result in still more. I only ask that the work be found 

 worthy of candid criticism. 



To Dr. Charles E. Bessey, the Nestor of western botanists, I 

 owe whatever of inspiration I have. He guided my infant foot- 

 steps in systematic botany when I was forty-three years old. He 

 never fails to kindle the latent spark in young or old. I thank 



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