BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR. XXV 
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 principal object of my father’s explorations in North 
America, and the Flora Boreali-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 landholder, as well 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 complete as it might be; thus, for instance, I have 
omitted several species which grow in lower Louisiana, 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 cir-. 
cumstances permitted, I would have returned to the United States, and, in a new edition, have correct- 
ed the errors, and filled up the omissions. I would 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 nothing 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 publica- 
tion of such a work would be attended with much benefit to the country, and afford particular honour 
to him who would undertake it.” 
Since the appearance of his great work,’ Michaux has devoted all his attention to his favourite pur- 
suits—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; experiment- 
ing largely in sylviculture on the extensive plantations of Mr. Delamarre, and owning himself a coun- 
try place near Pontoise, he never ceased until his death, to be actively employed in experiments on 
arboriculture, either suggested by himself or others. 
Michaux had retained in this country a few correspondents, who sent him occasionally new supplies 
of seeds, and, through a letter furnished by one of these gentlemen, I had the gratification to become 
acquainted with him, in the autumn of 1824. 
When living in Baltimore, from 1816 to 1824, I formed an intimacy with a French gentleman of 
the name of Leroy, who had known Michaux in this country, and had been since in correspondence 
with him. This Mr. Leroy, who was himself an excellent arboriculturist, having been earnestly soli- 
cited by his friend to send him all the seeds and young trees which he could procure in the vicinity of 
Baltimore, applied to me, as a fellow botanist, to assist him in this undertaking. We, therefore, went 
to work together in earnest, during the autumn of 1819, rambling into the woods with a negro boy, 
climbing and beating Oaks, Maples, and Hickory trees; uprooting the shrubs and young trees that 
fell in our way, and collecting seeds of every sort. The result of our campaign filled up several large 
boxes which were forwarded to Michaux, in the early part of the winter. 
When I visited Europe in 1824, Mr. Leroy favoured me with a letter of introduction to his friend, 
recommending me as his co-labourer in the collections which had been forwarded to him from Balti- 
more, some years previous. ‘This letter did not fail insuring to.me a hearty welcome at the hands of 
Mr. Michaux. I saw him frequently, and breakfasted with him at his winter quarters in Paris, on the 
place St. Michael, which was then a market for garden vegetables and fruits. We seldom sat at the 
breakfast table, without having, previously, taken an inspection round through the stalls where fruits 
and vegetables were sold, and he was pleased to point out to me the rarest and most beautiful with a 
passing notice on their origin. 
_ Mr. Michaux was extremely desirous to show me, in detail, his fine nurseries, especially those which 
contained his Maryland trees, to “contemplate”’ the result of the troubles and fatigues which they had 
cost me, but the weather was so unfavourable, during the whole season, that I .could visit but one of 
VOL. XI.—D 
