PREFACE 
It was not the original intention of the Experiment Station to 
prepare and publish a work on the Flora of Colorado. The con¬ 
ditions of the State, the character of the flora, which is so different 
from that of the east, forced the necessity of collections and the 
study of local flora by the botanists of the Agricultural College 
and Experiment Station from the very first. The economic study 
of Colorado plants, especially the search for those which might be 
adapted to arid conditions, increased this necessity. Opportunity 
was furnished by collections of grasses and forest products for the 
World’s Fair, and occasion was always taken when trips were made 
for any purpose, to obtain additional specimens. In the course of 
time the collection became so extensive that unless put in form for 
publication the time and expense involved would be lost, and the 
work which had been done would be of little service to us, and of 
none to the public in general. 
Some systematic collection was done by Professor James Cassidy, 
Professor of Botany (1881-1889), in the intervals of his many 
duties, up to the time of his death in 1889. His successor, Professor 
C. S. Crandall, gave much time to the work, especially after the 
establishment of the experimental grass station in cooperation with 
the U. S. Department of Agriculture. This afforded occasion and 
opportunity for trips in search of promising species of native grasses. 
Subsequent collections, especially of forest products and grasses 
for the World’s Fair in 1893, gave rise to further collecting trips 
to various parts of the State. Enthusiastic aid was given by 
Mr. J. H. Cowan, an energetic and promising student, who became 
Professor of Horticulture and Botany upon the resignation of 
Professor Crandall, but whose promising career was terminated by 
death before he had entered upon the active duties of the position. 
By this time the collection was of considerable size, had been in¬ 
creased by exchanges, and represented much time and expense. 
A great many calls came for information, and it was at first 
thought to publish only a list of the plants which were represented 
in our own collection. The pressing demands and many duties, as 
well as the lack of facilities, made it difficult for Professor Paddock 
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