ON THE BOTANY OF THE DISTRICT. 607 
The drift deposits, which, in their varying character in different parts, give such a striking feature to 
northwestern scenery, are always clothed with a characteristic vegetation. Thus, on the gravelly ridges 
of the Upper St. Peter’s, which in their main development go to form that singular character of scenery 
known as the “Coteau des Prairies,” dividing the tributaries of the Upper Mississippi from those of the 
Missouri, we invariably meet with many or all of the following grouped plants, viz. -» Castilleja Sessiliflora, 
Psoraleaesculenta, Gnothera serrulata, Oxytropis Lamberti, Lygodesmia juncea, Bouteloua oli gostachya, 
and others less fixe 
To the eastward, the corresponding water-shed between Lake Superior and the Mississippi, furnishes a 
growth of Pinus Banksiana, with an associated undergrowth of Vaccinium tenellum, Gaultheria pro- 
cumbens, Lycopodium, etc. The two deposits thus furnishing as marked a contrast in their vegetation, 
as in their geographical position or geological features. 
These points, with others that may be illustrated from the accompanying list, show that there is a very 
observable relationship between the Flora of a country and its geology. 
But it is farther to be observed that botany, from its peculiar intermediate position, connected and 
dependent, alike for all its varied features, both on the atmosphere and soil, is called to maintain corre- 
sponding relations to each; being at the same time subject to the modifying influence of atmospheric 
conditions and variations of soil. Thus called to supply such varying indications, it must necessarily be 
less intimate in its connexion with any one ; variety in this, as in every case, must be at the expense 
of definiteness. 
An interesting illustration of this fact is to be noticed on the shores of Eas Sup¢rior, where we meet 
with a singular blending of Littoral and Alpine plants: thus we find Lathyrus maritimus (Beach-pea), 
and Hudsonia ericoides, common to the Atlantic sea-beach, and intimately connected with a similarity of 
soil; and side by side with these, Potentilla tridentata and Clastonia rangiferina, peculiar to Alpine and 
Arete regions, in connexion with a similarity of climate. Such instances might be multiplied, all show- 
ing that the true province of botany, as a branch of physical geography, is with its own proper knowledge, 
to combine that varied information, that cannot be otherwise gleaned from any one department of Natural 
isto 
It is sis view, no doubt, that gives to the Sains of a new country its chief interest, and makes a suite 
of native plants valuable portable indices of the country they inhabit, of its agricultural capacities, climate, 
and external features, affording a ready means of comparison or contrast with other countries. May they 
not, when enlarged experience has traced with more accuracy these relations, and especially when we 
keep i in view the principle so much insisted on in geology, viz., to depend more on the grouping of spe- 
cimens, and drawing nice distinctions, than in isolated exasmples,<may they not take the same rank to 
agriculture that fossils do to geology? 
This principle always has been in general application. By it the farmer naturally judges of the fer- 
tility or barrenness of unploughed fields, while to an experienced botanist, a complete suite of the plants 
of any country would convey a greater amount of interesting as information, and impart more defi- 
nite notions of a country, than can be drawn from any single sow 
The Indian uses, economical and medicinal, of the plants ead, 9 are made a special item in my 
instructions, and on this point some interesting and unexpected facts have been noted. is is particu- 
larly true of the native articles,of diet, nearly all of which I have been enabled to refer to their scientific 
place, in connexion with the Indian name in most common use, and a brief enumeration of their uses. 
There is one fact in this connexion that has struck me as a matter of much interest, and I briefly 
advert to it here. Of the native vegetable productions of this region, several of the most useful in an 
economic or commercial point of view are connected with those features of country which seem least 
desirable. Thus the excellent cranberry occupies its irreclaimable marshes; the delicious huckleberry 
its barren ridges ; while the staple wi/d rice edges itsinnumerable lakes. The suggestion might be carried 
further, but these will be sufficient to draw forth an obvious inference. 
With regard to the medicinal articles used, my information is less important, due not so much to the 
nature of the subject as the difficulty of obtaining accurate information. Medicine, in the mind of the 
Indian, is always connected-with superstitious observances, and is inseparably blended with his religious 
notions. ‘The efficacy of the simplest remedies are attributed to some supernatural agency, and, as a con- 
sequence, more credit is given to the manner of administering, or unmeaning ceremonies connected with 
