PRELIMINARY: THE PLAN AND SCOPE OF THE SURVEY. 



The object of this, the first publication of the Botanical Survey 

 of Nebraska, is introductory only. It is intended to serve as a 

 preface and introduction to the future publications of the Survey. 



Although the general plan of the Survey was agreed upon in 

 June of this year, and no little collecting done in accordance with 

 it in July and August, the Survey was not formally organized till 

 August 24. At that time the organization set forth on the pre- 

 ceding page was effected. As there indicated, the Survey will be 

 entirely under the control of the Seminar. The Seminar selects 

 the members and assigns the work, and its members will bear 

 the entire expense of the Survey. But in the conduct of it they 

 will be advised and assisted by the gentlemen who have kindly 

 consented to act as the advisory committee, and in botanical and 

 scientific matters they will rely largely on the advice and assist- 

 ance of Dr. Bessey. 



In entering upon the Survey, the Seminar is fully aware of the 

 difficulties which must necessarily beset such an undertaking 

 when conducted by private means and enterprise. But if there 

 are difficulties attending the conduct of the Survey by private en- 

 terprise, there are also undoubted advantages. The members 

 need never fear to do purely scientific work, they need not spend 

 their time in strengthening their official rather than their scien- 

 tific position, and they need not be distracted from more impor- 

 tant matters by the burden of continually demonstrating to doubt- 

 ing Thomases the practical nature of their undertaking. 



No apology for the undertaking of such a survey is needed. 

 The changes which are taking place in the flora of the state have 

 already been noted by Mr. Webber in the preface to his cata- 

 logue. The rapid settlement of the western portions of the state 

 is undoubtedly accelerating these changes, and requires that those 

 regions be examined at once, while the native flora is intact. The 



