78 Botanical Society of Montreal. 



Eoyal Cemetery, purchased for that purpose, and to- take steps to 

 raise an adequate sum of money for tlie erection of a Monument 

 to his memory. 



The remains of Pursh now rest in the Mount Royal Cemetery, 

 and the Committee take the liberty of soliciting the favor of your 

 assistance in the efforts the Society is now making, to raise a 

 suitable Monument over his grave. 



The following are a few particulars which the Society is 

 enabled to furnish, regarding his life and labours : — 



Frederick Pursh was a German by birth and education. He 

 pursued a successful course of study in Dresden, and acquired, at 

 an early age, a taste for Science, and a peculiar fondness for 

 Botanical and Horticultural pursuits. He contemplated with 

 pleasure and admiration, the many beautiful and singular flowers 

 — the fine shrubs and ornamental trees, that adorned the gardens 

 and pleasure-grounds, and which were natural productions of 

 North America. This excited in his mind a strong desire to visit 

 the new Continent — to observe in their natural soil and climate 

 these same plants, the study of which had already afforded him 

 so much gratification, and to make such discoveries as circum- 

 stances might throw in his way. Accordingly in 1799, he embarked 

 for the United States, where he at once commenced his researches 

 as a scientific and practical Botanist. He devoted his time to the 

 field, the forest and the glen, and enriched his own extensive col- 

 lections by valuable additions from the Herbaria of the United 

 States' Botanists, with whom he became acquainted. His laboiirs, 

 however, were not confined simply to the formation of an Herba- 

 rium, He rendered his researches of great value by introducing 

 into the garden many beautiful herbs and shrubs, whose cultiva- 

 tion has since been greatly extended. Having thus laboured 

 assiduously for a lengthened period of 12 years — during which 

 time he discovered many new and rare plants, and ascertained the 

 soil, situation and range of country in which each species was 

 found — he proceeded to England with the intention of publishing 

 his researches. The materials he now possessed, together with the 

 information obtained from collections he consulted in England,formed 

 the basis of his " Flora Americje Septentrionalis," in 2 vol. 

 — a work which immediately gave him a high position among 

 men of science and learning, and secured to his name an autho- 

 rity on North American Botany, that will be always recog- 

 nised. 



