INTRODUCTION. 
11 
Southern plants ; not having been able to ex- 
plore as yet the Southern States, deterred by 
the bad roads, unhealthy climate, scanty fare, 
heavy expenses and state of society. A pedes- 
trian Botanist is not always very welcome 
there. 
During so many years of active and ardu- 
ous explorations, 1 have met of course all kinds 
of adventures, fares and treatment. I have 
been welcomed under the hospitable roof of 
friends of knowledge or enterprise, else laugh- 
ed at as a mad Botanist by scornful ignorance. 
Often deemed a herbalist and wandering doc- 
tor by the vulgar, I have allowed or indulged 
this harmless belief, and thereby elicited from 
many quarters the local knowledge of medical 
facts, which I have published in my Medical 
Flora of the United States. 
I have seldom met with liberal enlightened 
men, who could believe that I was actuated by 
the pure love of knowledge and science ; yet I 
have found such worthy men sometimes and 
their names are gratefully impressed on my me- 
mory. Such were J. D. Clifford, Alex. Walsh, 
Mess. Knevels, Adlum, Dr. Schultz, D. Jack- 
son, H. Clay, Clinton, Meade, Maclane, Wells, 
Thompson, Aldie, &, c. who without being Bo 
tanists, or at most mere florists, could appre- 
ciate my pursuits and facilitate my researches. 
As to Botanists and Zooligists I made it a point 
to search for them and enjoy their society, mu- 
tually imparting our knowledge. 
Such a life of travels and exertions has its 
pleasures and its pains, its sudden delights and 
deep joys mixt with dangers, trials, difficulties, 
and troubles. No one could better paint them 
than myself, who has experienced them all; but 
