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Show I PREFACE. The collection of plants ~ubmi.tted to me for examination, though mnde under unfavorable circumstances, is a very interesting contribution to North Ameriran botany. From tho mouth of the Kansas river to the "Red Buttes," on the North fork of tho Platte, tho tran!lportation was effeetro in carts ; but from that place to and from the mountains, the explorations Wffe made on horseback, and by such rapid movements, (which were necessary, in order to accomplish the objects ef the expedition,) that hut little opportunity was at forded for collecting and drying botanical specimens. Besides, the party was in a savage and inhospitable country, sometimes annoyed by Indians, and frequently in great distre11s from want of provision· ; from which circumstances, and tho many prc513ing duties that constantly engaged tho attention of tho commander, he was not able to make so large a collection as he dcilirr-<.1. To give some genrral idea of the country explored by I,irutcnant Fremont, I rccapitulatr, from his repolt, a brief sketch of his route. The e-xpetlition loll the mouth of the Kam:as on the lOth of Jww, I 42, and, proceed in~ up that river n.hout one hun<lrrd miiC!'C, then continued its course generally along tho "bottoms" of the KanRas tributaries, but sometimes passing over the upper prairies. 'l'he soil of the river bottoms is always rich, and gencrully well timbered ; though the whole rrgion is what is called a prairie country. The upper prairies arc an immense ueposite of sand and gravel, covered with a good, and, very generally, a rich soil. Along tho road, 6ln reaching the little stream culled Sandy creek, (a tributary of tho Kansas,) the Roil lx-camc more sandy. The rock formations of this region arc limrstone ancl ~;andstonc. 'Tho amorplw canescens was the characteristic plant; it being in many places as abundant Ui! the gra s. Crossing over frolll the waters of the Kruasa!'l, Lieut('naut Premont arrived at the Great Platte, two hundred and ten miles from its junction with the Missouri. 'The valley of this river, from its mouth to the great Jorks, is about four miles broad, an<l thrrc huJl(lred and fifteen miles long. It is rich, well timbered, and coverl'd with luxuriant grasseR. Tho purple liatria scariosa, and several asters, were here con,picuous features of the vegrtation. I was pleased to recognise, among the specimens collcctRd near th fork$, tho fine lurr.;e-llow reJ a.qdl'l>ia<:, that I described many years an-o in my account of James'~; Hocky .'v[ountain Phmts, undt'r the name of A. specio~a, aud which Mr. Grycr also fouud in Nicollet's expedition. It ~eems to b · the plant subsequeully described and .ligurcd by "ir W. Hooker, under the name (Jf .1. Dougln.sii. On the Low<>r Piotto, and aU the way to the Sweet \Vater, tho showy cleomc inlfgr1jolitt occurred in abundance. From the Forks to Laramie river, a ui:.<tanco of auout two hundred milef;, the country may be called a sandy one. The valley of the North fork is without timber ; but the grasses are line, a11d the herbaceous plants abundant. On the return of the expedition in ept.ombcr, Lieutenant Fremout says the whole country reRCmhlcJ a \ Ust garden; but the prevailing plants were two or thme species of ILelianllttts, (sunflower.) Between the maiu forks of the Platte, from the junction, as high up as I,:munie's fork, the formation consisted of marl, a soft earthy limestone, and a gra11ite sa1. lstone. At tha latter pla~e, tl1at singular leguminous plant, the ktntropltyta montana of N utt...dl was fm;t seen, and then occurred at intervals to the Sweet Water river. f'<lllO\\iug up the North fork, Licutcnant Fremont arrived at the mouth of the Sweet Water river, one of the head waters of the Platte. AboYe Laramie's fork to this placc, the soil is generally Fundy· The rocks consist of limestone, With a variety of sandstones, (yellow, gray, and red argaUaccoUf!,) with compact gypsum or alabas. ter, and .fip.c conglomerates. |