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THE BOTANICAL JOURNAL OF G. W. CLINTON |
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THE BOTANICAL JOURNAL OF G. W.
CLINTON – November 1864 |
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[1864.] Nov. 1. Before Breakfast, walked to
& along E. River, hoping to find R... [illegible], but did not. Collected
on 8th St. near corner of Broadway, an Amaranthus (not hybridus) which seems
to be the common one here. After breakfast, went to the Long Branch Boat,
intending to go to L. B. ‑ to look after a plant which I observed, in marsh
near Pleasure Bay, when I was there 5 or 6 years ago. I being uncertain
whether I could go & return same day, gave it up. With Harry Morris, took
4 th Avenue car to Harlem, & crossed the River & walked to the
Church, & along the creek this side of it. Observed an umbellifer which
bothered me, probably Daucus carota, ! but could not find the central, abortive
purple flower. Gray mentions [written above: "(Much more delicate &
of ... us [a thinness? illegible], & with a pinkish hue.)"]
Collected also Lepidium virginicum, leaves of an Oenothera, Spergularia?
Pycnanthemum, Ligustrum vulgare, Cuscuta
, Solidago sempervirens, Alnus serrulata, Panicum sp. Also, at Harlem a weed much
resembling Chenopidium ambrosioides, = odorless v. anthelminticum, but
destitute of its odor, more of the Amarant. Also Scleranthus near Mt. Morris.
Walked through Central Park. Home! [1864.] Nov. 2 Before breakfast, explored The
Battery. Nil. After breakfast, crossed, by
the South Ferry, to Brooklyn, and thence, by car, to Greenwood. Did not
enter, but walked on 1/2 ‑ 1 mile. Took 1 specimen of an Eragrostis. The
Daucus everywhere common. Zig‑zagged towards & to the Bay, &, through
divers streets, to Atlantic Street, when I took the ferry. Collected some
Xanthium spinosum, Chenopodium ambrosioides, = anthelminticum (erect, &
habit different from ours) & Salsola Kali. [1864.] Nov. 3. After breakfast, by South Ferry
to Brooklyn, & thence, by car, to Fort Hamilton, & walked back part
way. Observed Clethra & Liquidambar. Back to New York & over to
Jersey City, &, by car, to the marshy flat separating Jersey City from
Hoboken, where I found a grass, Spartina juncea & polystachya, a very
pretty specimen of Juncus bufonius? & two composites, probably Pluchea
& Baccharis. [1864.] Nov. 4. Left, with wife & daughter
[= Minnie], by Hudson R. R. R., at 5*30', i.e. in train advertised to start
at that time. Dr. Allen had lent me his portfolio, & in it I had packed
some plants he had given me, & my collections. We were to take the
sleeping car at Poughkeepsie, but that car was not open when the train
started from P., so I had to hurry wife & daughter into the 2d car behind
it. After we had started, the conductor informed me that the car was open,
so, when the train stopped at Rhinebeck, I passed them from platform to
platform to it. In doing so, (I carried the portfolio by its handle) I stepped
to platform of next car, & lay the portfolio down on it against the car,
& a man came out of it, brushed behind me & got off, and, alas! when
I had helped the folk over, the portfolio had disappeared, whether knocked
off or stolen? [1864.] Nov. 5. On arriving at Syracuse,
telegraphed the station master at Rhinebeck, to forward the portfolio, if
found. Train behind, as usual, & did not get home till almost 3 1/2 P.M. [1864.] Nov. 12. Observing that Mr. Wood, in his
Class Book of Botany, under Schizaea pusilla, says that fern was found in
Western New York, by Mr. Timothy Westmore, (should have been Wetmore,) I
wrote to Mr. W. on the 16 th of Sept. for information. His answer of Sept.
20, is No. 181 in my last letterbook. This led to my writing, Sept. 30, to
Dr. Skinner, whose answer is no. 200, and to Dr. Woolworth. Dr. W.'s answer
(No. 201) states that Wetmore is dead, & recommended writing to Mr.
Charles S. Halsey, "a nephew of
mine and brother in law of Mr. Wetmore" & "Principal of the
academy at Wilson." I wrote to Mr. Halsey at Wilson, Oct. 8. Mr. Halsey was living at Macedon Center (Wayne
Co.) (probably principal of the Academy there) and did not recieve my letter until
Oct. 23. His answer of the 24th (new letter book No.1) stated that he had
written to "Mrs. Charlotte Fowler, who lives with my father, the Rev. H.
Halsey, at East Wilson, Niagara Co." Nov. 5 I received Mrs. Fowler's
letter, of Oct. 28, (No. 17) and wrote to her. This morning the American
Express man delivered to me Mr. Wetmore's Herbarium, consisting of one
smaller book, and two largish ones, and Mrs. F.'s letter, No. 26. The
Herbarium contains 3 specimens labeled, by Mr. W., Schizaea pusilla. Mr.
Wood, in his letter (last book, no. 181) states, positively, that Mr. Wetmore
showed him specimen of Schizaea, & these must be the ones. But, alas!
they are Botrychium, similar to a specimen I found here, in the Smokes' Creek
Wood, the last summer, & probably a mere depauperation of B. Virginianum.
I have looked over the Herbarium with much interest, & taken a few notes
of stations which may be of use. The Express Man, when he delivered the
package, inquired whether I had reveived a portfolio, said that one for me
"was on the bill" but had not come, so there is hope of its recovery.
[1864.] Nov. 14. Wrote to Mrs. Fowler, asking
permission to take the specimen labelled Schizaea & Mr. W.'s remarks.
Wrote also to Mr. Wood, touching the mistake. Wrote also to A. A. Adee.
Forgot to enter that, on Saturday. I had a very pleasant call from Coleman L.
Robinson, who thinks & talks encouragingly of the prospects of the
Society. [1864.] Nov. 15. Received from [J.] R. Greenwood
(Station master at) Rhinebeck, dated Nov. 12, stating that he received my
telegram (of Nov. 5) & forwarded my "satchel", as directed, by
Express. [1864.] Nov. 16. Called at American Express
Office, & gave them the Station Master's letter, and a written
description of the Portfolio (Alas! It never came to hand). [1864.] Nov. 19. Wrote to Prof. Ed. Tuckermann,
Amherst College, de Pursh's journal & map of his travel in the U.S. See
Dr. Torrey's letter of Nov. 14 (Letter No. 35). [Clinton's letter books in the research library
at the Buffalo Museum of Science begin in 1865.] [1864.] Nov. 21. Have been looking over Lewis C.
Beck's Botany of the Northern & Middle States, Albany, 1833. He was very
kind to & must have had hopes of me as a botanist. I observe that he
mentions me under 1. Ranunculus Clintonii, p. 9. 2. Cerastium pubescens
(oblongifolium) Collected at Bellows' Falls, P. 54. 3. Onosmodium molle, p.
252.4. Sparganium natans, p. 380 Torrey, I believe, mentions me
only once, & that in his Flora of the State, as an authority for the
existence of Solidago Ohioensis in the Western part of the State. I am very sure that I never
saw Beck's Botany, (though I knew of this kindly notice of me) until a year
or two ago, when I saw the book in O.H. Marshall's library. [ On p. 9. of Beck's Botany, under Ranunculus
clintonii (the author of the taxon is Beck) "Banks of the canal near
Rome, Oneida co. N.Y." "I have named this species, which I must
believe to be quite distinct, in token of my friendship for G. W. Clinton,
Esq. It is undoubtedly the same plant which is described by Prof. Eaton in
his Manual of Botany, (5th ed.) under the name of R. prostratus of Lamarck.
But that species ..." etc. On P. 54, for Cerastium pubescens Beck wrote
Bellows' Falls, N. H. "I have secimens of the same plant collected at
Bellows' Falls, by Mr. G. W. Clinton." On p. 252, Onosmodium molle
"It has been found by Mr. George W. Clinton, in the sand plains near
Albany." P. 280, Sparganium natans "Found by Mr. G. W. Clinton, in
a lake on Catskill mountains." Torrey (1943) mentioned, in Volume 1, p.
360 for Solidago Ohioensis "Moist meadows; rare. Western part of the
State (Dr. Sartwell, Dr. Knieskern, Mr. G. W. Clinton). Niagara Falls (Mr.
Macrae)."] [1864.] Nov. 22. Received package from Dr.
Clarke, of Flint, Michigan. [1864.] Nov. 23. Received a package from Prof.
Porter. Wrote to Peter D. Knieskern,
M.D., Shark River, Monmouth Co., N.J. [1864.] Nov. 24. I find, on looking over my
checks in my copy of Gray's Manual, that of the species & varieties
described therein, I have not, as yet, acquired or collected the following
numbers thereof in the following Orders. Ranunculaceae 18. No. brought
forward 65 Magnoliaceae 3
Caryophyllaceae 11 Menispermaceae 1
Portulacaceae 2 Berberidaceae 2
Malvaceae 5 Nymphaeaceae 1
Tiliaceae 2 Sarraceniaceae 2
Camelliaceae 2 Papaveraceae
5 Linaceae 1 Fumariaceae 1 Geraniaceae 1 Cruciferae 21 Rutaceae 1 Resedeaceae 1 Vittaceae 2 Violaceae 3 Rhamnaceae 2 Cistaceae 1 Sapindaceae 3 Parnassiaceae 1 Polygalaceae 3 Hypericaceae 5 Leguminosae 40 65 140 Brought forward
140 Brought forward 435 Rosaceae
30 Labiatae 20 Calycanthaceae
3 Borraginaceae 6 Melastomaceae
2 Hydrophyllaceae 6 Lythraceae
1 Polemoniaceae 2 Onagraceae
14 Convolvulaceae 7 Loasaceae
1 Solanaceae 1 Cactaceae 2 Gentianaceae 7 Passifloraceae 2 Apocynaceae 2 Cucurbitaceae 1 Asclepiadaceae 8 Crassulaceae 4 Oleaceae 5 Saxifragaceae 12 Aristochiaceae 3 Hamamelaceae 1 Chenopodiaceae 5 Umbelliferae 18 Amarantaceae 7 Arabiaceae 1 Polygonaceae 2 Cornaceae 2 Lauraceae 6 Caprifoliaceae 7 Santalaceae 1 Rubiaceae 6 Callitrichaceae 3 Valerianaceae 4 Euphorbiaceae 13 Compositae 120. Empetiaceae 2 Lobeliaceae 5 Urticaceae 6 Campanulaceae 2 Juglandaceae 3 Ericaceae 5 Cupuliferae 6 Galacineaceae 1. Salicaceae 16 Aquifoliaceae 4 Corniferae 5 Styracaceae 5 Typhaceae 2 Sapotaceae 2 Lemnaceae 1 Plantaginaceae 1 Naiadaceae 2 Plumbaginaceae 1 Alismaceae 1 Primulaceae 4 Burmanniaceae 1 Lentibulaceae 7 Orchidaceae 8 Bignoniaceae 2 Amaryllidaceae 3 Orobanchaceae 1 Haemodoraceae 1 Scrophulariaceae 18 Iridaceae 2 Acanthaceae 2
Smilaceae 6 Verbenaceae 4
Liliaceae 10 435
614 Brought forward 614
Brought forward 642 Melanthaceae 7
Cyperaceae 72 Juncaceae 11
Gramineae 63 Pontederiaceae
1 Equisetaceae 4 Commelynaceae
3 Filices 6 Xyridaceae 3 Lycopodiaceae 1 Eriocaulonaceae
3 Hydropterides (including Salvinia)
2. 642 790 Of these deficiencies, some
will be found to be erroneous, when the undetermined species collected by
myself & correspondents, shall be determined, & some specimens
labelled by correspondents, but where labels are doubted by me, shall be
settled. Gray's may be in the distinct [?] species & are not taken
into account. P.M. Received letter No. 43,
from Mrs. Charlotte Fowler, giving me permission to take and use the 3
specimens labeled Schizaea pusilla (Botrychium) from Mr. Wetmore's Herbarium
and informing me that his "friend Reuben" was "Reuben B.
Warren," who "died, 4 or 5 years ago, in the Village of Alabama,
Genesee Co." was engaged in mercantile pursuits, "& probably did
not carry his botanical pursuits any farther than Mr. Wetmore, if as far."
She also informs me that Timothy Edwards Wetmore "was a descendent in the
5th generation, from the emminent theologian" Timothy Edwards. She also
inclosed, for my perusal, an obituary notice of Mr. Wetmore, signed R. B. W.
(Reuben B. Warren) and cut from The Rural New Yorker (of Rochester) of July
19, 1856. From it, I make the following abstract. He was born, in Middletown,
Conn., Feb. 17, 1821. He died, at East Wilson, Niagara Co., N.Y., at the
residence of his father in law, Rev. H. Halsey [x], on Monday evening, June
30, 1856, after a brief but painful illness, aged 35 years. Soon after his birth, his
parents removed to Volney, Oswego Co., N.Y., and removed thence to Alabama,
Genesee Co., in 1837. In May, 1844, he entered the Academy at Yester, Orleans
Co. [?]. In the spring of 1845, he entered the Collegiate Institute at Wilson.
After leaving the Seminary, he engaged in business, & remained in Wilson
till the summer of 1850, when he removed to Kent Co., Mich., & devoted
homself, mainly, to Agricultural pursuits, & resided there the residue of
his life. At the time of his death he was Editor of the Agricultural
Department of The Grand River Eagle, and a special contributor to Moore's
Rural New Yorker. The obituary article is highly, and I doubt not, justly
eulogistic. He left "an aged &
beloved mother, a kind brother, an affectionate wife, & four little
sons." Took out the Schizaea
(Botrychium) 3 specimens & the notes touching the source. Mailed a letter
of acknowledgement ot Mrs. Fowler. [Timothy Edwards: probably erroneous for
Johnathan Edwards (1703‑58), American theologian born in Connecticut whose
preaching brought about the Great Awakening revival of religion in New
England. Wilson is a township in Niagara Co. The then postal village of
Wilson supported "3 churches and the Wilson Collegiate Institute. Pop.
666" (French 1860 p. 457). Moore's Rural New Yorker "was commenced
in 1850 by D. D. T. Moore, its present publisher" in Monroe County, New
York (French 1860 p. 397, ftnt 3).] [1864.] Nov. 25. Put Mr. Wetmore's herbarium in
American Express directed as Mrs. F. prescribed, paid the charge, 30 cents.
Received & answered letter from Miss Shattuck. |
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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. |