31 



if not in columns of brass or marble, at least in banks of solid and 

 endurable clay. These pine lands are cultivated to a considerable 

 extent, and I was assured, that besides producing fair corn crops, 

 they yield half a bale of cotton to the acre. 



Clinton is a town of some size, regularly laid out and well built 

 up. It has about fifteen hundred inhabitants. It contains a con- 

 siderable number of neat private residences, besides the courthouse 

 and the Masonic building, which are edifices of some pretensions. 



The people of Clinton have, evidently, much public spirit, and 

 they promise themselves a great deal, by way of improvement, 

 whenever the long expected railroad extension from Baton Rouge is 

 effected. 



The flora of East Feliciana presents considerable interest. Many 

 specimens have been found there, which thus far, have not been 

 met with in any other part of the State. Here grows the Anise tree, 

 (Ulicium FloridanunO with its beautiful crimson flowers and ever- 

 green leaves. This small tree would form one of the finest orna- 

 mental shrubs in our gardens. On the Comite river, grows in a 

 wild state, in the midst of the woods, the Jerusalem cherry, (Sola- 

 nurn pseudo capsicum,) a shrubby plant, much cultivated. It is not 

 probable that it is indigenous, but must have escaped from the 

 gardens, which are, however, a considerable distance from the 

 locality where it grows wild. 



CONCLUSION OF ITINERARY 



After I had completed the botanical survey of East Feliciana, it 

 being only one week to the commencement of the session, I deemed 

 it most prudent to return to Baton Rouge, to enable me to take 

 proper care of the collections I had made, to arrange them, deter- 

 mine and classify them; a labor which requires much time, consid- 

 erable patience and much research. On comparing the results of 

 my various excursions, I found that my collections, without ex- 

 hausting the materials of summer vegetation, were varied, rich and 

 highly interesting. The sea coast plants, which could not be obtain- 

 ed at any other locality, are, by themselves, worth all the trouble I 

 iaken, and the expense I had incurred. 



