PREFACE. 21 



the banks of the river from which, in this State, it 

 derives its name, as far down as Halifax County. In 

 this last case, and perhaps in some others, we may 

 suppose that seeds have been carried down by 

 streams which head in the mountains. But in regard 

 to some species, as the fragrant Wintergreen or Moun- 

 tain Tea (Gaultheria procumbens), they sometimes 

 attain such a Avide distribution in their new (?) posi- 

 tion, and at such a distance from the larger streams, 

 as to suggest a doubt whether they are not truly in- 

 digenous ^to the spots they occupy. Still, as above 

 remarked, the general aspect of the vegetation of 

 either region is no more affected by these rare excep- 

 tions, than is that of the geological features of a dis- 

 trict by a few scattering bowlders. The most care- 

 less observer cannot fail to observe how essentially 

 the vegetation changes, as he passes from our sandy 

 low country into the red clay region of the middle 

 country. The difference is as remarkable as that of 

 the soils. The absence of the Long-leaf Pine marks 

 the transition to the Middle Botanical District. A 

 line drawn from Blakely on the Roanoke, in the 

 direction of Cheraw on the Pee Dee, will very nearly 

 indicate the Western termination of the Lower Dis- 

 trict ; although the actual boundary limit between 

 these two is as irregular as a line of sea-coast, which, 

 very probably, this once was. Occasionally, as before 

 hinted, the vegetation of the LoAver District is found 

 considerably overlapping that of the Middle, and the 

 Long-leaf Pine to occur some miles within the red 



