REPORT 
Of Dr. Torrey, on the Botanical Department of the 
Survey. 
To His Excellency, William H. Seward, 
Governor of the State of New-York. 
»SiR : 
As Botanist under the act for a Geological Survey of the State, I 
present you with the following catalogue, preparatory to my final report 
on the department committed to my charge. When I received my 
commission, no specific duties were assigned to me, except to make a 
thorough examination of the vegetable productions of the State, to col- 
lect and preserve seven sets of each species, and to arrange and name 
the whole. One of the sets was to be put up in volumes, for reference, 
and deposited in the Capitol at Albany; the others to be placed at the 
disposal of the Executive. 
In compliance with these instructions, I have made numerous jour- 
neys in various parts of the State, and have prepared extensive collec- 
tions of botanical specimens. I have also been greatly aided by seve- 
ral botanical friends, particularly by Dr. Asa Gray, who has devoted 
much time to the study of the plants of New-York, Dr. P^ter D. Knies- 
kern of Oriskany, and Dr. H. P. Sartwell of Penn-Yan. I am like- 
wise indebted to many other botanists and naturalists for the communi- 
cation of specimens, or localities of rare or interesting plants, among 
whom I take pleasure in naming Prof. Bailey of West-Point ; 1. Ca- 
rey, Esq. of New- York ; Dr. Hadley of Fairfield ; Dr. Bradley of 
Greece ; Dr. Emmons and Prof. Hall, of the geological corps, and 
Prof. Dewey of Rochester. I have also availed myself of information 
formerly received from many other botanists who have explored various 
parts of the State. To Dr. Crawe, I am indebted for some rare spe- 
cies from St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties ; to Dr. Barratt, for 
[Assembly, No. 50.] 15 
