224 Botanical Writings of Rafinesque. 



insects, will often beset you, or sorely hurt you. Hateful snakes are met, 

 and if poisonous are very dangerous; some do not warn you off like the 

 Rattle-snakes. You meet rough or muddy roads to vex you, and blind 

 paths to perplex you, rocks, mountains and steep ascents. You may of- 

 ten lose your way, and must always have a compass with you as I had. 

 ■ You may be lamed in climbing rocks for plants, or break your limbs by a 

 fall. You must cross and wade through brooks, creeks, rivers and swamps. 

 In deep fords or in swift streams you may lose your footing and be drown- 

 ed. You may be overtaken by a storm ; the trees fall around you, the 

 thunder roars and strikes before you. The winds may annoy you ; the 

 fire of heaven or of men sets fire to the grass or forest, and you may be 

 surrounded by it unless you fly for your life."* 



Now for the other side of the picture. 



" The pleasures of a botanical exploration fully compensate for these 

 miseries and dangers; else no one would be a travelling botanist, nor 

 spend his time and money in vain. Many fair days and fair roads are 

 met with, a clear sky or a bracing breeze inspires delight and ease, you 

 breathe the pure air of the country, every rill and brook offers a draught 

 of limpid fluid. What delight to meet with a spring, after a thirsty walk, 

 or a bowl of cool milk out of the dairy ! What sound sleep at night af- 

 ter a long day's walk; what soothing naps at noon under a shaded tree 

 near a purling brook. Every step taken into the fields, groves and hills, 

 appears to afford new enjoyments. Landscapes and plants jointly meet 

 in your sight. Here is an old acquaintance seen again ; there a novelty, 

 a rare plant, perhaps a new one, greets your view ; you hasten to pluck it, 

 examine it, admire, and put it in your book. Then you walk on think- 

 ing what it might be, or may be made by you hereafter. You feel an 

 exultation, you are a conqueror, you have made a conquest over Nature, 

 you are going to add a new object or a page to science. To these bo- 

 tanical pleasures may be added the anticipation of the future names, pla- 

 ces, uses, history, &c. of the plants you discover. For the winter, or 

 season of rest, are reserved the sedentary pleasures of comparing, study- 

 ing, naming, describing, and publishing."! 



The following list comprises, we believe, all the botanical wri- 

 tings of Mr. Rafinesque which appeared previous to his return to 

 this country in 1815. Those which relate to American botany 

 have reference to his discoveries between 1802 and 1805. 



1. Prospectus of Mr. Rafinesque Schmaltz's two intended 

 works on North American Botany ; the first on the new genera 

 and species of plants discovered by himself; and the second on 



* JVew Flora of North America, Part I, Introduction, p. 11, et seq. 

 t JVew Flora, I. u.. Pari I, -p. 14. 



