REPORT OF THE STATE BOTANIST 1902 5 



Species of Crataegus have to each other and the need of a correct 

 knowledge of all their distinguishing characters in order to 

 identify the species satisfactorily, make it necessary to have 

 specimens showing flowers, mature fruit, immature and mature 

 foliage. Our species blossom in May and early in June, but do 

 not ripen their fruit till late in August, during September and 

 early in October. It is therefore necessary to make at least two 

 collections of samples from each individual tree or shrub to be 

 identified. One taken in flowering time will show the flowers and 

 young leaves, the* other taken in fruiting time should show the 

 ripe fruit and mature leaves. It is desirable also to have samples 

 of young and vigorous shoots with their mature leaves, which 

 often differ somewhat from the leaves of ordinary shoots ; also of 

 twigs of the first and second year's growth and of the early 

 growth of the season with stipules and thorns. Specimens of all 

 the unrecognized species of Crataegus growing in the vicinity of 

 Albany and in the Champlain valley from Fort Ann on the south 

 to Westport on the north and in North Elba have been collected. 

 The localities in the immediate vicinity of Albany have been vis 

 ited several times; those in the Champlain valley, in North Elba 

 and the country between it and Westport twice; once in May and 

 early June and once in September. A large amount of material 

 has been collected, duplicate specimens having in all cases been 

 taken. By reason of the peculiar difficulties attending the iden- 

 tification of these plants, owing to the confusion of species and 

 the omission in older descriptions of any record of characters now 

 deemed important, it has seemed best to avail myself of the aid 

 of Professor C. S. Sargent, the distinguished dendrologist and 

 specialist in this branch of botany. Accordingly a set of these 

 specimens has been sent to him for identification. 



Mr F. E. Fenno, an active botanist of Tioga county, has from 

 time to time contributed to the herbarium specimens of rare and 

 interesting plants from his county. He has given much time to 

 the collection and study of the plants of his region and has 

 recently sent me a very full annotated list of the species known 

 from his own observation to occur there. In all doubtful cases 

 these have been identified by specialists. The Illustrated Flora 



