14 
HISTORICAL SKETCH. 
Botanical works must even be printed at pri- 
vate expense, as have been most of mine (except 
my medical flora) and the sales do not pay the 
expences. We often meet besides with envy or 
detractors, scorn or neglect. We must there- 
fore find our own reward in the self-satisfaction 
of having done well, and deserved if not obtain- 
ed due credit, also in the pleasures inherent in 
collecting, studying and describing the gifts of 
Flora, besides the grateful kindness of some con- 
genial friends or well wishers. 
Nothing is more unkind, and yet how com- 
mon, than to hear myself assailed with the 
questions, why do you not give us your new 
plants ? why are they not found by every 
body ? . . . ! This perversity of ideas and feel- 
ings, would be best answered by saying in iro- 
nical style, why do you not give me your mo- 
ney ? and value my rare plants ? or why are 
you lazy or blind ? . . . . I am tired to repeat 
— Go to the mountains and glades, every month 
of the year, go where I found them at the same 
season and you will find them. Spend $ 500 in 
the pursuit, if you will not buy my specimens — 
However one half of my new plants are already 
in the hands of Botanists, having sent them or 
exchanged or sold to 20 of them. Short, Rid- 
dell, Hart <£c have found again several of my 
Western plants, those of Robin will be found 
in Atakapas and Texas, those of Kin in the 
peninsula of Florida <£c. 
A crowd of rare plants of Michaux, Pursh, 
Nuttal &c are unknown to most of our Botan- 
ists. Many plants described by European Bo- 
tanists Linneus, Aiton, Lamark, Decandole, 
Hooker, Lindley, Wildenow &c, are equaly 
rare with mine, and unknown to many of our 
