52 Forty-first Annual Report on the 



sketches were made of most of the new species while the plants 

 were yet fresh. A record of the added species, together with 

 descriptions of the new ones, is marked 0. 



Remarks concerning species previously known to belong to our 

 flora and descriptions of new varieties are recorded in a chapter 

 marked D. 



The botanical reports have now become so numerous that an 

 index to them is greatly needed, in order to facilitate reference to 

 them and save time in consulting them. I have, therefore, pre- 

 pared an index, of the genera and species recorded in reports 

 twenty-two to thirty-eight, inclusive. It is alphabetically arranged 

 and is marked F. 



Beaver dam is a body of water near to and connected with 

 Beaver lake, in the eastern part of Lewis county. It was reported to 

 me that the red-flowered variety of the white water lily, Nymphcea 

 odorota, had been seen growing there. Wishing to obtain speci- 

 mens of this interesting form, the locality was visited, but only 

 the same form that was found last year in Mud pond was detected 

 here. The external petals are tinged with red but the inner ones 

 are white. The full red-flowered variety is yet a desideratum. 

 There was found, however, in Beaver lake inlet, locally called 

 " The Slough," a scarcely less interesting form of this plant. It 

 has the very large flowers and leaves of the tuberous water lily, 

 Nymphcea titherosa, and yet the very distinct and pleasant fragrance 

 of the white water lily. It is interesting, scientifically, because it 

 tends to support the views of those botanists who consider these 

 plants as mere forms of one species. 



A form of the northern or Canadian blueberry, Vacoinium 

 Ganadense, in which the fruit is jet black and shining, was 

 observed growing plentifully in the cleared land and pastures near 

 Beaver lake. Thus, it happens that each one of our four common 

 blueberries, which contribute to supply our markets with this 

 excellent fruit, has its black-fruited Variety, notwithstanding the 

 general application of the name "blueberries." This variation is 

 interesting and worthy of notice, because it indicates a tendency in 

 these plants to vary in a part in which variation may be made the 

 basis of useful improvement under proper treatment and culture. 

 The fruit is the useful part of these plants and variation in it 

 indicates capability of improvement in this direction. A similar 

 variation has also been observed in the fruit of the black huckle- 



