INTRODUCTION. |1 



Southern plants; not having been able to ex- 

 plore as yet the Southern States, deterred by 

 the bad roads, unhealthy climate, scanty fare, 

 heavy expenses and state of society. A pedes- 

 trian Botanist is not always very welcome 

 there. 



During so many years of active and ardu- 

 ous explorations, 1 have met of course all kinds 

 of adventures, fares and treatment. I have 

 been welcomed under the hospitable roof of 

 friends of knowledge or enterprise, else laugh- 

 ed at as a mad Botanist by scornful ignorance. 

 Often deemed a herbalist and wandering doc- 

 tor by the vulgar, I have allowed or indulged 

 this harmless belief, and thereby elicited from 

 many quarters the local knowledge of medical 

 facts, which I have published in my Medical 

 Flora of the United States. 



I have seldom met with liberal enlightened 

 men, who could believe that I was actuated by 

 the pure love of knowledge and science ; yet I 

 have found such worthy men sometimes and 

 their names are gratefully impressed on my me- 

 mory. Such were J. D. Clifford, Alex. Walsh, 

 Mess. Knevels, Adlum, Dr. Schultz, D. Jack- 

 son, H. Clay, Clinton, Meade, Maclane, Wells, 

 Thompson, Aldie, &/C. who v/ithout being Bo 

 tanists, or at most mere florists, could appre- 

 ciate my pursuits and facilitate my researches. 

 As to Botanists and Zooligists I made it a point 

 to search for them and enjoy their society, mu- 

 tually imparting our knowledge. 



Such a life of travels and exertions has it« 

 pleasures and its pains, its sudden delights and 

 deep joys mixt with dangers, trials, difficulties, 

 and troubles. No one could better paint them 

 than myself, who has experienced them all; but 



