6 



number of collectors and persons interested in botany in the state 

 is increasing, and they demand that the local flora — for the de- 

 termination of which, as regards the Anthophytes, two manuals 

 are -required in many parts of the state — be systematically set be- 

 fore them, and that the lower plants of the state be made access- 

 ible to them. At present, but a limited number can form any ac- 

 quaintance with the larger part of the plant life of the state. Mr. 

 Webber's catalogue and the supplements to it have been of very 

 great assistance to botanists and collectors in Nebraska. But 

 they are not enough, and, besides, are far from representing the 

 whole flora of the state, as is shown by the additions made almost 

 daily. To continue to add to Mr. Webber's catalogue in a hap- 

 hazard way will needlessly and indefinitely postpone the complete 

 presentation of our flora which is desirable. Systematic botan- 

 ical exploration of the state will bring such a catalogue much 

 sooner, make it a far better one, and cannot fail to develop many 

 things of practical as well as scientific importance. 



It would be greatly to the public, interest to have a state Nat- 

 ural History Survey. But the time when such a survey can be 

 conducted with public funds seems far distant. The next best 

 thing is a private survey. This the Seminar has undertaken for 

 the botanical part, believing thdt the time when such a survey 

 should be had is at hand. 



It is the intention of the Seminar to make a thorough and com- 

 plete survey of the state, extending over several years and cover- 

 ing all forms of plant life. Those parts of the state which are 

 less known will be carefully explored, and, as far as possible, com- 

 plete collections will be made there. Distinct cases have been 

 provided in the Herbarium of the University for the Survey Her- 

 barium, and several collections of fair size and no little impor- 

 tance have been made already. The plan is to make the Survey 

 Herbarium a complete representation of the flora of the state, to 

 indicate there, as far as possible, the distribution of each species, 

 to determiae tlie floras of the various regions of the state, and to 

 provide for the botanists of the state a herbarium for the study 



