10 
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5. To prepare extra sets of the botanical specimens, (seven sets 
have been stated to be required, by the Governor,) to be presented 
to scientific or literary institutions in this State. 
6. To communicate to our citizens who may apply to me for 
the purpose, botanical information respecting our native or cultivat- 
ed plants. 
7. To ascertain the best method of destroying injurious plants. 
8. To collect, and incorporate in my final report, useful know- 
ledge respecting the applications of botanical science to the culti- 
vation ©f the soil. 
9. Finally to prepare a Flora of the State, comprising plain and 
full descriptions of all our plants, divested as much as possible of 
technical language, with an account of their qualities, as far as as- 
certained. 
The work which I have thus laid out to be performed is by no 
means inconsiderable, and I should be unable to complete it with- 
out the aid of botanists in various parts of the State. I have, how- 
ever, the assurance of assistance, not only from my fellow labourers 
who are engaged in the survey, but from many others, so that I 
hope my account of our vegetable productions will be tolerably 
complete. 
The botanical season was so far advanced when I received my 
commission from your Excellency that I was not able to explore 
very extensively before the frosts arrested vegetation. Still I 
have made considerable progress in my work, and my collections 
are very numerous. The principal counties which I have examin- 
ed are New-York, Richmond, Kings, Queens, Suffolk, Rockland, 
Putnam, Dutchess, Albany, Herkimer, Oneida, Madison and Ot- 
sego. 
As soon as the spring opens I hope to take the field, and engage 
with unabated zeal in my important and responsible undertaking. 
Very respectfully, 
Your Excellency's humble servant. 
JOHN TORREY. 
