Chapter VI 



FLORA AND FAUNA 



1750 



1 KALM, PETER. A letter from Mr. Kalm, a gentleman of Sweden, 1750 

 now on his travels in America, to his friend in Philadelphia, containing Kalm 



a particular account of the great fall of Niagara, September 2, 1 750. 

 (Gentleman's mag., Jan., 1751. 21:15-19.) 



The description of the Falls contained in this letter is the first one 

 written by a scientist. Kalm, who was an eminent Swedish botanist, 

 studied the flora of the region, and his name survives in two of the wild 

 flowers found at the Falls today — the Lobelia Kalmianum and the 

 Hypericum Kalmii, a species of the St. Johnworts. It is unfortunate 

 that no record has ever been found in his scientific writings of this visit 

 to the Falls. 



1795-1796 



2 LlANCOURT, Duke DE LA RoCHEFOUECAULT. Travels through 1795-96 

 the United States of North America, the country of the Iroquois, and Liancourt 

 Upper Canada, in the years 1795, 1796, and 1797, with an authentic 

 account of Lower Canada. Lond. : Phillips. 1799. 1:225. 



The portage was formerly on the other side of the river; but 

 as this, by virtue of the treaty, falls under the American 

 dominion; government has removed it hither. The whole 

 country, though extremely sandy, is covered with oak, chestnuts, 

 and fine hickory trees, and such parts, as are better watered, 

 bear, in common with all other parts of America, ash and maple- 

 trees. 



1 See chapter II for letter. 



2 For fuller extract, see chapter II. 



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