68 Clinton's introductory discourse. 



natural history of North America has received. The Botanical Garden, 

 established in the vicinty of this city by Dr. Hosack, contains seven 

 hundred and thirty-three genera, and two thousand four hundred spe- 

 cies of plants: it was purchased by the state in 1810, and recently 

 presented to Columbia College : it is to be hoped that this valuable 

 institution will prosper under its new proprietors, and that a pro- 

 fessorship of botany will be connected with it. Dr. Muhlenburg 

 of Lancaster, an eminent botanist, has lately published an account of 

 the native and naturalized plants of America according to the Linnsean 

 system, which includes eight hundred and sixty-three genera, and their 

 corresponding species. 



It has already become difficult to discriminate between our native and 

 naturalized plants ; with the progress of time the difficulty will increase, 

 and it ought to be removed as soon as possible. From the vegetable 

 kingdom man derives his principal food and medicine, and it administers 

 to his wants and luxury in a variety of shapes. The botanist ought to 

 attend to the substitution of indigenous medicines of equal efficacy to 

 those imported, and also to the discovery of others whose qualities are 

 now unknown, as applicable to the cure of diseases : he ought also to 

 direct his attention to the discovery of indigenous esculents, and of arti- 

 cles for dying, soap, lights, and other branches of domestic economy. 

 America has furnished maize, or Indian corn, which may be compared 

 with the best of the cereal gramina of the old world ; she has also origi- 

 nated the potato, which has administered more to human subsistence 

 than any other production whatever. There are probably other undis- 

 covered legumens and gramina which may essentially contribute to the 

 comfort and support of mankind. It is said that there is a natural mea- 

 dow of vast extent in the Michigan territory, which abounds with wild 

 potatoes and artichokes; it would certainly be worth while to ascertain 



