190 ESSAYS. 



or its progeny were appropriately borne by the members of 

 the Torrey Botanical Club, at its founder's funeral, two years 

 ago, and laid upon his coffin. But very few botanists have 

 ever seen the tree growing wild and in its full development. 

 I was desirous to be one of the number. 



Among the broad, black lines with which the railway map 

 is chequered, I found one which terminates at Chattahoochee. 

 This was the objective point, and the way to it seemed plain 

 enough, though long. Pilgrimages to famous shrines by rail- 

 way, in the Old World, are nowadays systematized and made 

 easy. The untried one which I undertook appeared to offer no 

 j)rivation or difficulty, except the uncertainty whether I should 

 be fortunate enough to find the grove which I sought. And, 

 indeed, there was little privation to speak of. It was, how- 

 ever, rather trying to us (i. e., to myself and my companion 

 in travel and life), when, after leaving Savannah on an early 

 April morning, with the assured understanding that we should 

 reach Chattahoochee late that evening, we learned that we were 

 to be left for twenty hours at a small hamlet on the borders 

 of east Florida, named Live Oak, a manifest lucus a non 

 lucendo, as there were no Live Oak-trees in the neighbor- 

 hood, but a prevalent growth of Long-leaved Pines. There 

 was some good botanizing to console us, and, thanks to the 

 railroad conductor for directing us aright, unpretending but 

 truly comfortable quarters for the night. Then, the next day, 

 resuming our journey after a twelve-o'clock dinner, which we 

 were to mend with a supper at Tallahassee, we were at length 

 informed that we were to be supperless ; that the stations 

 both of Tallahassee and Quincy were out of town and out of 

 reach of all edibles ; that Chattahoochee station, to be reached 

 after ten o'clock, was only a freight-house on the wild and 

 wooded bank of the river, built upon piles in the swamp, 



of, or its seed, " was brought from Florida by the late distinguished Major 

 Le Conte." I am confident that this is a mistake, and that Le Conte knew 

 nothing of this tree in its native station. If my recollection is correct, at 

 least two seedling trees were placed in Dr. Torrey's hands by Mr. Croom, 

 one of which was consigned to A. J. Downing, of Newburgh, the ultimate 

 fate of which is unknown to me, the other to Mr. Hogg, senior, which, as 

 "The American Agriculturist" states, is now in Central Park. 



