LIBRARY 

 NEW YOR 

 BOTAMCA1 



GARDEN 



Preface. 



The local explorations of this region, which have resulted in the 

 accumulation of the facts recorded in the present publication, were 

 begun more for the pleasure they involved, than with any well-defined 

 purpose in view. Soon, however, they were taken up more earnestly, 

 with the desire of enlarging our knowledge of the immediate resour- 

 ces of the Botanical Department of Cornell University. Since 1880, 

 there have been added objects, viz. : to ascertain as precisely as possi- 

 ble the abundance of each species, the local distribution of it, and the 

 number and habits of those forms whose limit of general distribution 

 on this continent falls within or near our territory, all, of course, in- 

 volving the taking of voluminous field-notes, and the collection of a 

 large series of specimens. But it must be remembered that while 

 the results of observation on geographical distribution are recorded, 

 the catalogue is primarily intended to assist the student and local col- 

 lector, and contains many things which would be of little interest to 

 the non-resident. For instance, the dates of the local flowering of plants 

 are given with considerable closeness ; these are for average years, 

 and due allowance must be made with the spring flowers, for such a 

 season as the present (1886), when everything since the first week in 

 April has been two or three weeks in advance of the average season - 

 and naturally these dates might not answer for a climate differing 

 from ours. Again, localities are often mentioned, for plants not espe- 

 cially rare, solely for the purpose of aiding student collectors. Forms 

 and varieties of species have been included in the catalogue numbers, 

 with somewhat more than ordinary fullness, in order to call forth fur- 

 ther observations from local and other collectors, on their abundance 

 and constancy. We have been chary of giving new names to such, 

 in order to avoid a possible increase of synonyms, although we be- 

 lieve some of those numbered will prove to be, when better known, 



i- - • well-marked varieties. 



•a- Acknowledgements are due from the writer to several of his botani- 



