38 THE ISLAND OF NANTUCKET. 



Our whole flora is increasing in its loveliness, and 

 promises to be " a joy forever." 



In presenting Mrs. Owen's list of the flora of Nan- 

 tucket, the compiler begs to say that he deems himself 

 more than fortunate in being able to secure it in ad- 

 vance of her own book, and he sincerely trusts that 

 every assistance will be rendered her by all who make 

 this beautiful exhibition of God's handiwork a study. 

 Mrs. Owen says: — 



u At Mr. Godfrey's request, I have with much 

 pleasure prepared the following catalogue. It is far 

 from complete, being based upon collections made over 

 thirty years ago, when I had made no study of the 

 grasses and sedges, and when I had no thought of 

 publishing. Still, in this imperfect form it will be of 

 use to botanists, and the number of plants rare in 

 New England which it contains, shows what pleasing 

 discoveries are probably still to be made by exhaustive 

 explorations. 



" I hope to bring out, as soon as I have sufficient 

 material, a more complete list to be published by itself, 

 with such notes on the rarer plants as may be of inter- 

 est. For this I ask the co-operation of all botanists, 

 resident or visiting on the island, and I shall be ex- 

 tremely obliged for names and localities of additional 

 species. To make the list more serviceable and au- 

 thentic, it is desirable to have specimens of the new 

 discoveries, for preservation in an herbarium of the 

 island plants, which, if formed, will be freely accessible 

 to botanists. 



" Information is particularly desired about Andro- 



