( viii ) 
a belief that it might contribute in fome de- 
gree to render a knowledge of this fubjeCt 
more familiar and eafy, has been induced to 
draw up this Alphabetical Catalogue of the 
Foreft Trees and Shrubs, natives of the Ame- 
rican United States, as mentioned by the belt 
authors, or fince difcovered by ingenious tra- 
vellers. In this Catalogue are contained their 
Linnasan Generic and trivial names, (or new 
formed ones where thefe have been wanting) 
together with their mod common and approv- 
ed Englifh ones ; the particular diftinguifhing 
characters of each Genus ; a plain and fami- 
liar defcription of the appearance, manner of 
growth, &c. of their feveral fpecies and va- 
rieties ; and alfo, fome hints of their native 
foil and fituation, ufes in Medicine, as Dyes 
and in dome ft! c oeconomy. 
As terms peculiar to the fcience frequently 
and unavoidably occur, it was judged nec el- 
fary, in order to render the vrork more ufeful 
a.nd complete, to prefix a general explanation 
of the Linnsean fyftem of arrangement, as 
alfo of the ufeful and unavoidable fcientific 
terms; for this and other purpofes the author 
has availed himfelf from the bed writers, of 
what has been judged mod applicable and 
conducive to his defign. The vrhole forming 
an ufeful Vademecum Botanicum , or Botanical 
Companion. 
In this my Countrymen are prefented at one 
view with a concife defcription of their own 
native Fored Trees and Shrubs, as far as hi- 
therto difcovered. And thofe whofe fancy 
may 
