PREFACE. 25 



In the following 3-ear he explored twice the IMoun- 

 tains of Burke and Yancey counties, carrying away 

 in the Fall 2,500 specimens of trees, shrubs, and 

 plants. In 1794 he again visited the same region, 

 ascending Linville, Black, Yellow, Roan, Grandfather, 

 and Table Mountains. In the following year he 

 twice passed over portions of the same. Traditions 

 of this indefatigable and eccentric traveler are cur- 

 rent in the western counties, and persons are prob- 

 ably yet living wdio remember him. The late Col. 

 Davenport, of the Yadkin Valley, was his guide on 

 several occasions, A very large and interesting por- 

 tion of our mountain species w^as first discovered by 

 Michaux, and published in his " Flora Boreali-Ame- 

 ricana," which is yet a standard and classical work 

 in Botanical literature. With rare exceptions his 

 species have been since identified by other explorers. 

 Mr. Fkasee,, a Scotchman, made botanical collec- 

 tions in our mountains between the years 1787 and 

 1789. Under the patronage of the Russian govern- 

 ment he explored them again in 1799, accompanied 

 by his eldest son. It was on this journey that the 

 splendid Laurel^ or Rhododendron Catawbiense of 

 Botanists, was discovered, which, with tlie varieties 

 obtained by skillful cultivation, was for long the 

 pride of the English ilorists. Both revisited the 

 country in 1807. After the decease of the father in 

 1811, the younger Fraser returned hither and passed 

 several years in diligent examination of the Moun- 

 tains, annually sending large quantities of ornamental 



