c:4i ] 



June 13, 1852. The Clintonia borealis (Gray) is a 

 handsome and perfect flower, though not high-col- 

 ored. I prefer it to some more famous. But Gray 

 should not name it from the Governor of New 

 York. What is he to the lovers of flowers in Massa- 

 chusetts? If named after a man, it must be a man 

 of flowers. Rhode Island botanists may as well name 

 the flowers after their governors as New York. Name 

 your canals and railroads after Clinton, if you please, 

 but his name is not associated with flowers. ^ 



Journal, iv, 95. 



' The Clintonia was so named by Rafinesque, in 1832, not by Dr. 

 Gray, in honor of Governor De Witt Clinton, who was a naturalist of 

 some note, although chiefly famous in connection with the building of the 

 Erie Canal. H. W. G. 



