July-November 1897, Botany Trip with Sargent and Canby Image 40

Many miles of pines cut for resin and turpentine; 2 stripes of bark cut 2 ft ab ground down to ground usually barked ½ way round. Then comes fire one these resin trunks and makes a deep scar dry; then comes wind storm and fells and finishes them, breaking them of course at the dry wound. Hard to see how people can make living. Long wait at Gainesville. Get to Cedar K at 7, got to Dutch Hotel back of store thro’ wh it is entered. The magnolia glauca and some grandif between Gainesville and Keys and many palms and vine clad bushes; some water oak v fine and laurel o, also Spanish blue Jack and 2 others, Catesly o, large deep cut lves common about Archer. [Nov 20]. Enquired about Hodgson, heard Mr. H and the eldest son were dead, the others were at Archer. Stopped off there and found Mrs. H in garden. She did not know me, asked my name; “Muir, John”; then, “the Cal J M?” she almost screamed. Then introduced me to her friends near telling that I 30 odd yrs ago was the finest, handsomest young man one could hope to see, etc. Talked old times, glad to hear that in all the long icy and sunny yrs intervening we had not forgotten; only my sickness had been forgotten, said she knew the M gl mush have been named for me, etc. Strange with what the interest old events are called back tho’ little can be made of them. At Archer Sargent and I parted, he going on to Boston, I to Live Oak wh I reached at 7 P.M. Staid here over night. [Nov 22]. Lost day back somewhere.https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/jmj-all/3573/thumbnail.jp