p.3

3

My labors thus far have been in a great
degree confined to making a catalogue
of the described and named grasses of
the United States, showing their scientific
and common names (if any) the author who
first proposed the name, the synonymous
name or names (if any) the places
where each species is described or figured
in any book; the date of the first
application of different names, so as to
show which has precedence; the station
or kinds of places in which the species
most delights to grow; the month in
which its flowers appear, and
lastly the geographical distribution
over the different parts of our
country. The result of this labor
is a Manuscript volume of 578 pages.
To render it complete I found it necessary to
connect the valuable libraries of the Academy
of Natural Sciences at Philadelphia, of Dr.
Asa Gray, of Cambridge [Map?]. and others.

Though this catalogue may not be
entirely complete, and though some species
may appear in it under different names,
yet it is believed to be very near the
truth.