12 
INTRODUCTION. 
I must be brief in conveying a slight idea of 
them. 
Let the practical Botanist who wishes like 
myself to be a pioneer of science, and to in- 
crease the knowledge of plants, be fully prepar- 
ed to meet dangers of all sorts in the wild 
groves and mountains of America. The mere 
fatigue of a pedestrian journey is nothing com- 
pared to the gloom of solitary forests, when not 
a human being is met for many miles, and if 
met he may be mistrusted ; when the food and 
collections must be carried in your pocket or 
knapsack from day to day ; when the fare is 
not only scanty but sometimes worse; when 
you must live on corn bread and salt pork, be 
burnt and steamed by a hot sun at noon, or 
drenched by rain, even with an umbrella in 
hand, as I always had. 
Musquitoes and flies will often annoy you or 
suck your blood if you stop or leave a hurried 
step. Gnats dance before the eyes and often 
fall in unless you shut them ; insects creep on 
you and into your ears. Ants crawl on you 
whenever you rest on the ground, wasps will as- 
sail you like furies if you touch their nests. 
But ticks the worst of all are unavoidable 
whenever you go among bushes, and stick to 
you in crowds, filling your skin with pimples 
and sores. Spiders, gallineps, horse-flies and 
other obnoxious 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, moun- 
tains, and steep ascents. You may often loose 
your way, and must always have a compass 
