Jn the mean time, let us keep stirring; let us collect material; 

 let us register our observations, that we may be well prepared to fill 

 up satisfactorily the spaces which Mr. Harvey will leave for us to 

 do. Let every one desirous of advancing a knowledge of the 

 marine botany of our country, so as to place it upon as respectable 

 a footing as it has acquired in Eurpope, investigate the shores of 

 their locality — observe, collect, make notes, communicate, exchange 

 with others, and a-few years will place American Algology side by 

 side with that of Europe. 



What should act as a further stimulus to our exertions is the 

 almost unexplored field open before us, where we cannot fail to reap 

 a plenteous harvest. Unlike England, where every rock, pool, and 

 boulder have been scraped, and the depths of ocean been dredged 

 in search for their habitat, habils, and characteristics ; many, very 

 many parts of our coasts lie altogether untouched for such an 

 object ; and even what has been done remains yet to be critically 

 re-examined, and many truly American species will be delected to 

 have been confounded with European, in consequence of depend- 

 ance upon dried and imperfect specimens which alone may have 

 been compared. 



Those beautiful albums of sea-weed, so ingeniously prepared by 

 ladies for presents, &c, should be sought for and encouraged even by 

 the scientific, for ihey not only create a love and taste for their collec- 

 tion, and thereby secure pleasurable, cheerful, and consequently 

 healthful exercise to those engaged in it, but it snatches and pre- 

 serves from oblivion many rare and beautiful specimens which 

 might escape the researches of the merely scientific. 



It is not my intention nor desire to urge'a classification of our 

 Algse, impressed as I am of the magnitude of the undertaking, 

 especially with the crude material we have yet prepared ; but let 

 each and every one of us work diligently ; let us collect the 

 material from which the structure must be raised ; let each one 

 store up his observations in his note book ; let him encourage his 

 neighbor by imparting what he has learnt; let him collect every 

 species, as opportunity presents, — and we shall not lack a master- 



the albums of the ladies many of its floral treasures; but very few others than the 

 showiest specimens have been sought for and preserved, and until very lately New 

 York Buy remained unbroken ground, and I.oug Island Sound still Hghs with 

 n^sjlect. For a few days this summer L explored its shores at Greenport, and almost 

 every species I fouud weie new to me. 



