396 Mr. Cutler's Account of indigenous Vegetables, 



XXIV. An account of some of the vegetable Productions, na- 

 turally groTJuing in this Part (?/" America, botanically arranged. 

 By the Rev. Manasseh Cutler, F. A. A. and M. S. and 

 Member of the Philosophical Society at Philadelphia. 



IN an infant country, where nature has been liberal in her 

 productions, and internal resources are greatly wanted, few 

 objects can be of greater importance than natural history. Yet, 

 unhappily, there is no branch of useful knowledge we have so 

 little cultivated. The cultivation of this branch of science will 

 open to our view the treasures we possess unenjoyed ; and must 

 eventually tend to the security and welfare of our citizens, the 

 extension of their commerce, and the improvement of those arts 

 which adorn and embellish life. 



The little progress we have made in exploring the fossil king- 

 dom, is sufficient to convince us, that the bowels of the coun- 

 try are well stored with minerals and other useful fossils ; which 

 are capable of being improved, not only for the benefit of indi- 

 viduals, but as national advantages. 



We have, perhaps, as great a variety of indigenous plants, as 

 any country produces, in a similar climate. But a great part ol 

 them have never been so far noticed as to receive even a trivial 

 name. Canada and the southern states, beside the attention 

 paid to their productions by some of their own inhabitants, have 

 been visited by eminent botanists from Europe. But a great 

 part of that extensive tract of country, which lies between them, 

 including several degrees of latitude, and exceedingly diversi- 

 fied in its surface and soil, seems still to remain unexplored. 



The almost total neglect of botanical enquiries, in this part 

 of the country, may be imputed, in part, to this, that Botany 



has 



