EDITORIAL 3 



and behaviour under changed conditions, either in the wild 

 state or when cultivated. That relations exist between 

 insects and flowers is familiar to every one as a statement, 

 and some may be more or less familiar with a part of the 

 extensive literature on this subject ; but how few such 

 observations are on record from Scotland. A comparison 

 of these relations as observed in Scotland with the records 

 of naturalists in other countries could not fail to be interest- 

 ing and instructive. The diseases of plants have been 

 investigated by very few workers in Scotland, despite their 

 practical importance, and the light they are certain to shed 

 on the processes of disease in animals and in man. The 

 Galls of Scotland have not by any means been exhausted 

 even as regards their mere enumeration, and their distribution 

 is very imperfectly known : while there is very much to be 

 done in tracing their modes of formation and development. 



The Cryptogams, especially the Thallophytes, will long 

 afford material for investigation sufficient to absorb the 

 powers and opportunities of many botanists. The life- 

 histories of the Fungi and their relations to their environments, 

 and to other living beings, can scarcely be said to be fully 

 understood with regard to a single species. The popular 

 names and folklore of plants in the various districts of 

 Scotland deserve to be recorded ; if this is not speedily done 

 the opportunity will be lost under the advancing wave of 

 elementary school education. 



Communications on such subjects as the above will be 

 welcome ; and any information that we can give with regard 

 to subjects of investigation, books, etc., will be most willingly 

 supplied. Queries for information, or for discussion, will be 

 inserted when sent by our readers with that view. There 

 will be a space for brief notes of observations, methods of 

 preparing material for study, and for other topics likely to 

 prove of interest to Botanists. 



Papers and notes by specialists will give information with 

 regard to groups or species of plants that should be looked 



