89 
The Actsea Spicata, marked as peculiar to Britain in 
Bonn’s Catalogue, is found at the base of Schooley’s moun¬ 
tain, and in many other places. The Actaea Racemosa and 
Alba are frequently met with. The berries of the Actaea 
Spicata are poisonous. Toads are said to resort to this 
plant, owing to some congenial effluvia they exhale from it. 
The vulgar antipathy to these animals may have arisen from 
this circumstance. The root of Actaea is the medicine.* 
This short list of medicinal plants might be greatly en¬ 
larged ; but neither the limits nor the design of this address 
permit me farther to expatiate. I understand that Mr. 
Frederick Pursh, the botanist, who made one of the expedi¬ 
tion up the Missouri under the command of the unfortunate 
Lewis, is about publishing in London, under a liberal pat¬ 
ronage, a full account of the valuable and extensive addi¬ 
tions which were then made to the Materia Medica. Anoth¬ 
er work, comprising the discoveries since that period, is 
contemplated in this country. These, with Dr. Barton’s 
Collections, will furnish us with a tolerable view of the sub¬ 
ject. 
Respecting ornamental flowers, the properties of which 
have not yet been developed, I shall only say, that the florist 
would find, in many of our wild plants, colours richer and 
more numerous, and fragrance more delightful, than in many 
which have already been introduced into the hot house and 
garden. 
I conclude with recommending the employment of a 
skilful botanist to explore the unfrequented parts of our 
state, and particularly those portions of it considered un¬ 
healthy ; as a greater number of plants, and those of the 
most useful kind, are found in such places, than elsewhere. 
Tours of this nature are by no means unfrequent, and while 
Americans have neglected the botanical examination of their 
country, foreigners have immortalised themselves by doing 
it. From England we have had Raleigh and Catesby, Fra- 
* Dorai’s Hortus Cantabrigiensis, p. 100. 
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