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THE BOTANICAL JOURNAL OF G. W. CLINTON |
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THE BOTANICAL JOURNAL OF G. W.
CLINTON – April 1864 |
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[1864] April. 4. Monday. Last Friday, noticed
in the Corporation Square, a pair of blue‑birds. The Robins have been here
some days. Took my first stroll. Walked out to
the dark wood, in the State Line R. R. There took specimen of an Alnus in
flower. Day thinks we have both A. incana & A. serrulata, & it may be
so. If so this may be the latter. In the wood, found an old man & a woman
established in a bough shanty. He had a basket full of Prince's Pine,
goldthread, Osier bark & slippery elm bark. Says he sells such things.
The woman says they have been quite comfortable there, except when it snowed
once, & then they had to go to a neighbor's. In the wood by the wood road after
crossing the ditch, scattered seeds of Poa sylvestris, &, by the ditch, of
Tripsacum dactyloides. On the railroad, just by a pile of old boards,
scattered seeds of Euphorbia herniarioides, & by the ditch (on the right
going out, & between the pile & the 3d telegraph pole from the
crossroad into the wood) seeds of Ludwigia alternifolia, and some of Stylisma
Pickeringii. In the hollow, by the creek, just by the far end of the R. R.
Bridge, scattered seeds of Ammannia humilis, A. latifolia, & of something
else unknown, & some of Poa nemoralis also escaped. On Wheelbarrow Point,
two men fishing, one had caught 2 mullet, had also caught a Menobranch.
Plenty of men & boys about, generally with guns, occasionally with a fish
spear, dogs of course, looking along the ditches for pickerel. Saw no one who
had got one. The only birds were sparrows. Vegetation hardly commenced. The most conspicuous green were the leaves
of the Barbarea. [Ammannia coccinea Rottb. (=A.
latifolia Gray, Manual not L.
"Apparently the more developed form of the southern A. latifolia L. ...: p. 185 Gray, 6th edition: Lythraceae.
The 1997 New York checklist of
Mitchell and Tucker gives Rotala ramosior (L.) Koehne ex Mart., Tooth‑ cup,
as a synonym of Ammania ramosior L., a species rare in the state. Alnus incana (L.) Moench and Alnus
serrulata (od Day, 1882) are now
considered Alnus rugosa (Du Roi) Spreng. In Gray's Manual of 1862 there
is a Euphorbia herniarioides, Nutt. "Banks of the Mississippi and lower
Ohio, in rich alluvial soil, and southwestward.' p. 386."] [ The couple seems to be employed in
the service of the local medicine
trade: Prince's Pine is Chimaphila umbellata (leaves "used in
medicine for stones in the bladder and
retarding excretion of urine. Contains
ericolin, arbutin, chimaphilin, urson, tannin and gallic acid."
(Uphof p. 125); Goldthread is Coptis
trifolia (L.) Salisb. ‑ another English name
is Canker‑root, "Entire
dried plant is used medicinally as stomachic, tonic, has similar action as Hydrastis. Used
locally for ulcerated mouth. Contains
berberine and coptin, being alkaloids." (Uphof p. 151). Of the
different species of Willow (Salix)
mentioned by Uphof, two are alien but commonly planted by streamsides (Salix alba and S. fragilis), one is
native (Salix nigra) whose bark is
"rich in tannin; used as home medicine for fevers." (p. 465) and is probably the one indicated
here as the environment noted appears
to be native and not farmed. Notice
how liberal and compassionate Clinton is to be speaking to people who live in this condition and
asking what their condition was.
Barbarea is the Barbarea vulgaris R. Br. called Winter Cress, as
its basal rosettes are conspicuous in
the spring ‑ note it is a common weed at
this early date, perhaps associated with the railroad and cattle areas
of Buffalo.] [1864] April 6. After dinner, took Main St. car
to Granger's Creek. Hiram E. Howard, in the car, told me that the blue‑grass
of Kentucky was "the common knot grass", that it was difficult to
get rid of when once it got a footing, that his father took great pains to
get it & it turned out to be that. Don't know what he means by knot
grass, probably Triticum repens. Got out at the grocery by the cross road,
& scattered seed of the KY bluegrass (procured for me by Mr. Cook, it is
a Poa.), on the vacant lot at the corner, & by the road side, here &
there, up to the toll gate. Crossed to the grove on the left, & there,
and in the two quarries, scattered more. In the grove scattered berries of
[greenbriar?] received from Mr. Haskins of New Albany, Ia. [= Indiana], &
planted seeds of the Persimmon (=Diospyros virginiana). Crossed the road
& fields to the wood which goes nearly to Delaware St. Along the fence,
easterly of the old house, in the south edge of the wood, & up to the
house, planted more Persimmon seeds. The frogs in the swampy places in the
wood, singing sweetly. Not a flower, nor a flower bud. Returned the same
route. Saw one meadow lark. [1864] April 7. or thereabout. Put seed of
Elatine americana on edge of ditch crossing Squaw Island, just this side of
fist willow tree, left hand side going towards the River. [1864] April 11. Walked from the Erie St. Depot
to Black Rock, strewing seeds, here & there, of the Kentucky Blue Grass,
along the track. Thence to Squaw Island, on west side of Lock & along
below Bob Austin's, do [= ditto]. In the ditches crossing the Island,
& in Creek, below Curtis's, planted seeds of Nelumbium. In the hillocks,
by creek, below Curtis's, put in pods of the Glycyrrhiza, & some seeds of
Enslenia or Gonolobus. Went to the Conjocketie's, left bank, just above the
saw‑mill, & there planted more seeds of Nelumbium. In the groves
thereabout, & up to the road, put in seeds of Persimmon. Also, near &
above the mill, scattered more blue grass & Anychia dichotoma seed, &
dibbled in seeds of Gonolobus &c., &c. some, I think, of Tecoma, also
Lysimachia vulgaris and Persimmon. [Conjockety Creek is the original
name of what is now, and has long been written, Scajaquada Creek. The creek
was named after Philip Conjockety. "In the old navy yard at the mouth of
this stream five vessels were reconditioned for Commodore Perry's fleet
during 1813" (from a plaque erected by the New York State Education
Department and Abigail Fillmore Chapter, D. A. R., 1937). The plaque is
located on part of the Elmwood Avenue bridge where it passes over the
Scajaquada Creek (http://222.andrle.com/markers/mark002.htm ‑ noted in 2003).
"Dibble" indicates Clinton took a stick and dibbled a hole in which
he planted his Gonolobus seeds.] [1864] April 11 ‑ 18. Between these dates gave
Mr. E. S. Warren seeds of the Gymnocladus, Cassia Marylandica, Tecoma?
Gonolobus or Euslenia? [spp.?] and of the cucurbit received from C. C.
Haskins. [Gymnocladus canadensis Lam. the
Coffee Tree, native in New York to Illinois and Tennesee. Probably Cassia
Marilandica L., American Senna (Leguminosae)]. Tecoma, Juss. (Bignoniaceae),
the Trumpet‑flower, species of climbing plants; Gonobolus, Mx.
(Asclepiadaceae); Eugenia? of the Myrtaceae. the Myrtleblooms, Eugenia
Jambos, the Rose Apple, a tree with a sweetish rose‑like flavor. Mr. C. C. Haskins is apparently of New
Albany, Indiana (see Miscellaneous Index). The cucurbit is Echinocystis
lobata Torr. & A. Gray, see 1863: Oct.20, the "Wild Balsam‑Apple".] [1864] April 19. 7 1/2 A.M. Two swallows, the
first I have noticed this Spring, flying over the houses. Gave pods of
Gymnocladus to Mr. Letchworth, for Glen Iris. Sent packages, by Express, and
wrote to Rev. Joseph Blake & Prof. Porter. Wrote to William Saunders,
London, C. W., inclosing copy from list of desirable plants in his Catalogue.
Wrote to Daniel Clarke, M.D., Flint, Mich, for specimen of Solidago Canadensis
v. procera & Aster ericoides, v. villosus. To E. W. Hubbard, Tottenville, for botanists in
Staten Island, &tc. To Miss Laura Sanford, Erie, Pa., for naturalists,
part'y [particularly] botanists, there. To S. B. Mead, M.D., Augusta, Menard Co., Ill., de his [ancient? word
added] list of plants of North Salem, N.Y., communicated to me by Dr. Lee,
&c., &c. Also to Dr.
Sartwell. 17th ‑ 18th & today,
mailed the circular of the Regents, with the lists of deficiencies of the
Cabinet, to Prof. Gray, Dr. Lee, Peekskill [? not in index], Dr. Sartwell,
Dr. Vasey, John A. Paine, Jr., M. S. Bebb, Miss Mary H. Clark, Dr. Dewey,
E. G. Pickett, Prof. Porter, Grote,
Coleman T. Robinson, Edward Huntington, Rome, Dr. Engelmann, Rev. P. P.
Kidder, Dr. Geo. Thurber, Dr. Daniel Clarke, Rev. Joseph Blake, Wm.
M. Canby, Wm. Boot, Dr. Robbins,
Oxbridge, Mass., O. R. Willis, H. M. Douglass, South Richland, N.Y., Dr.
Bostwick, Litchfield, Conn., Miss Hale, care Hon. Robert S. Hale, Dr. Skinner, E. W. Hubbard, M.D., Tottenville, N.Y., G. W. Hazeltine, N.Y. Wrote to Dr. Woolworth, requesting
him to send copies to Miss Shattuck, E. G. Trembley, M.D., Toledo, C. B.
Dyer, Prof. A. Bradish, Dr. Grossmann, Dr. G. A. Lapham, Milwawkee, Rev. G. S.
Barris, North Evans, Hon. Robert S. Hale & Dr. Safford E. Hale, Elizabeth
Town, N.Y. Richard Remington, Esq., of same place. Charles F. Hammond, Esq.,
Crown Point, Gratham G. Witherbee,
Esq., & Wm. H. Stone, Esqs., Port Henry, Essex Co., and divers others. [C. B. Dyer is in Cincinnati;
'Grote' is Augustus R. Grote. North Salem, N.Y. is in the town of North
Salem, Westchester Co. William Saunders replied (see 1864. April 19). See
1863:Dec.1 for the initiation of this request. The Cabinet is the ancestor of
the natural history collections of the New York State Museum, Albany, New
York.] [1864] April 20. Received letter from Edward
Tatnall, Esq., Wilminton, Delaware, wrote & mailed him the circular. [1864] April 22. Friday. Strolled out to Swartz's
Ravine. Populus tremuloides in flower, P. grandidentata behind, Corylus
rostrata in blossom. Collected a little of Claytonia Caroliniana. In the
swamp in the grove (and also below) Caltha palustris in flower. Saw three
very small blossoms of Sanguinaria. The Dirca shows signs of blossoming. At
the foot of the hill and edge of the marsh in the grove, a fine beech tree,
of which I took some unexpanded catkins, probably Betula lenta. Explored the
marsh below Forest Lawn, thence to Delaware St., crossed creek, took road to
the right, to the stone quarry, thence through the little wood & fields
to Main St. cars, home. [1864] April 25. Monday. Sent a small package
to Gray. Got materials together for package for Dr. Clarke of Flint, Mich.
& Wm. Canby of Chadd's Ford, Pa. Wrote to them, & also to Wm. Bebb. [Chadd's Ford is a post‑village in
Delaware Co., Pennsylvania on the Brandywine Creek, 30 miles west by south of
Philadelphia.] [1864] April 26. Wednesday. Walked, along R.
R., to York St. Beginning just beyond the Round House, planted, here &
there, seeds of Lathyrus maritima, &, especially, in the pool, on the
left side of R. R. & near end of Round House, and on left side of R. R.
on vacant lot next York St., omnium gatherum of seeds. Up York to Niagara,
& so home. Received capital letter from Col. Olney & one from Dr.
Clarke. Raining. Looked over the collection of plants received, last Fall,
from Dr. Robbins. Received letter from Gray, saying that a Scirpus sent him
recently (and collected Aug. 12, 1863,) is S. Torreyi. Walked to Ms.
Howland's, on Niagara St., and gave her 4 seeds of the Balsam Apple (?)
received from C. C. Haskins. Planted one before my house. [The cucurbit is Echinocystis lobata
Torr. & A. Gray, see 1863: Oct.20, the "Wild Balsam‑Apple".] [1864] April 28. Thursday. 7 A.M. The Rain
ceased last evening, ice formed in the Streets last night. Wrote to Col.
Olney, John A. Paine, Jr., Wm. Boott, Esq., Dr. W. M. Hunting, Fairfield. [1864] April 29. Friday. Mr. Barr (Woodyard man
on Scott St.), rows every now & then, on west side of Grand Island, &
lands at Hagerman Point, in the grove on which is a spontaneous pear & a
spontaneous apple tree. He says that, if I will let him know when I wish to
go, he'll take me there. After dinner, rode in car to
Schanzlin, took road to the east, & after crossing the Bridge, & next
field, went through orchard to the creek, &, by the fence side, a short
distance up the creek, found a small Ulmus racemosa, just commencing to
flower. Recrossed the road & went to the grove where the U. racemosa,
found by Day last year is, will not be in flower for a week & a difficult
tree to get specimen from. In that grove collected a little Claytonia
Caroliniana. Went past the stone quarries to the Frasera grove, nil. Returned
& went into grove south of Insane Asylum, nil. Went to the Grove, &
in the swamp at the foot of the hill, collected a little Cardamine rhomboidea
v. purpurea. A Salix, the Alnus. Then, through the fence, to the top of the
bank approaching Swartz's Ravine, & there, took specimen of a willow.
Made a small blaze on all the willows I took from. The poplar tree in the
south side of the cross road (probably P. monilifera with a very small leaf)
shows no signs of flowering. Took specimen also from the small willows on the
bank of the lateral ravine north of cross road, that cuts through the big
field opposite Dr. Lord's. [Perhaps the ferries to Grand Island
near the foot of Squaw Island only went to the east side of Grand Island
(Falconwood). The Insane Asylum here is not the New York State Insane Asylum
of Elmwood and Forest Streets but the Roman Catholic Lunatic Asylum on Main
Street.]. [1864] April 30. Saturday. After dinner, rode
to Dam & walked over on Squaw Island. Above the lock, by the big tree on
the dry land, took male & female willow & tied strings on the shrubs,
also took some from below. Walked up the Island on the embankment. Just below
the little Sycamore & nearly opposite it, took specimen from two female
shrubs, catkins small, & put strings on the trees. Walked on the head
&, near the river side, near the trees, more specimens. There is a willow
there which produces catkins & leaves together. [Note the "blazes" or
marks on the willow trees (April 29) and the strings on the willows here:
this is because to identify these difficult trees one needs the male and
female fruits, growing in aments, or catkins, that present themselves in many
species before the leaves are developed later in the season: both are
necessary for identification and it is often confusing to match up early and
late collections from the same tree. Maples, which flower before leaves are
produced, present a similar problem, although in that genus the leaves and
fruit, occur together, and are more individually distinctive than willows
are] |
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Scientific names may be looked up in the online checklist of Western New York plants. Find genus names beginning with A - C D - K L - P Q - Z. |