LIBRARY 

 NEV 

 BOTaNi 



PRELIMINARY. 



In 1 819 the Troy Lyceum appointed Prof. Amos Eaton and Dr. George 

 Marvin a committee to make a list of the wild plants growing in Troy and 

 its vicinity. This list comprises 774 species. But the MS. was mislaid for 

 several years and never published. 



In 1836 John Wright, M. D., and James Hall, A. M. , (the present State 

 Geologist,) published a "Catalogue of the wild plants growing within a Cir- 

 cuit of ten miles about Troy." In this are 940 species; about 600 being 

 credited to this county, of which however, but a fractional part is repre- 

 sented. 



In the present publication — The Flora of Rensselaer County — 1345 

 species and varieties are recorded — the result of a careful canvass of the 

 entire district. 



Among the " rarities" are a number that have come to us from southern 

 latitudes, several from the distant west and a few from foreign shores. As 

 the geographical range of species is determined with unquestionable exact- 

 ness by local Floras, it is of the utmost importance to the practical botanist 

 that these should multiply. It is therefore hoped that this publication will 

 stimulate others, especially young botanists, to publish the result of their 

 labors. 



In rural districts at the present day botany is becoming a favorite study 

 with the young people. To such the local Flora is the normal companion 

 of the descriptive manual. 



The compilers have to acknowledge the kindly assistance of Prof. 

 Charles H. Peck, State Botanist; of Rev. J. H. Wibbe, of Schenectady, 

 and of Prof. Puissant,of Troy. 



The species not specified as " rare" or " infrequent" are believed to be 

 common to nearly all parts of the county. 



