34 THE PLANT WORLD. 



To the avera<>e American tlie collecting case is wholly unknown or 

 is the badge of one "slightly unl)alancecl'". By some who are a little 

 better informed, botanizing is looked upon merely as a fm} and recalls 

 to their minds nothing but the scrapi\y bits of l)lossoms and leaves that 

 they had "pressed" in the old geograj)hy and called their herl)arium. 



Why is this the condition here^ In general education we stand 

 second to none, and our courses in l)()tanv in the hioher institutions are 

 as crowded with students as are any other courses. But still the fact 

 remains that the majority of the people are wholly unac(|uainted with 

 the botanist and his implements. Of course, there are some who will 

 say, "that may be true in the nev n-rst but in the older, cultured com- 

 munities a very different condition prevails". Perhaps so. but it may 

 l)e worth mentioning that the in'ircr irt^t is still so young that nearl}' 

 its whole population is made up of those who re})resent, at least, a 

 (jood average of the intelligence of the comnnmitv from which thev 

 have severally come. 



As evidence that the condition alleged exists, permit a few of the 

 manv amusing incidents that have befallen the writer during some of 

 his collecting trips of recent years. While cam})ed on the Platte, 1 

 had occasion to collect on the hilltops and blurts overlooking, on its 

 opposite bank, a village of a few houses. 1 soon noticed that 1 was 

 eagerly watched l)y small groups of the inhabitants. The succeeding 

 dav 1 again collected in the same localitv and again they assembled to 

 discuss the object of their curiosity. Had not a river at flood-tide 

 rolled between them and me, it is probable that a committee had 

 waited upon me. On reaching the next village some miles beyond, 1 

 found that my fame had preceded me: "Oh, you are the brazy man 

 who has been seen on the hills below here, going about with a tin can 

 and occasionally picking up something from the ground I" 



More times than I can tell, I have been asked, "W^hat do you 

 want those weeds for?" and, after watching me put the plants in press, 

 "Will they grow when you get them home?" If any })urpose in the 

 matter suggests itself to the minds of- the observers, it is that the 

 plants are collected for their medicinal value. When such })ur})ose is 

 disclaimed and the statement is made that they are simply collected 

 ))ecause of their scientific value, the interlocutor either at once loses all 

 interest in the matter or looks upon you with a half pitying expression. 

 But the idea of medicinal value in the "herbs" appeals strongly to many, 

 — almost as much so to some whites as to a certain small band of 



