474 Bibliographical Notices. 



of most valuable critical and other remarks. As much of this informa- 

 tion was acquired, and many of the views there adopted were formed, at 

 a later period than that at which the parts of this work which treat 

 concerning the same plants, were written, we think that the editors 

 might advantageously have added, as notes to the Flora, many ex- 

 tracts from these papers. It is plain that they have thought 

 differently, for the ' Phytologist ' is rarely quoted by them. 



The author's preface contains some remarks upon the rules to be 

 observed in deciding upon the claims of plants to be considered as 

 indigenous or introduced, which well deserve the consideration of 

 the writers of local and even national floras. He very properly 

 protests against the scepticism of those botanists who *' reject as 

 aliens a large proportion of species that have been long recognized 

 and admitted by common consent into our indigenous catalogues," 

 acknowledging at the same time that " they at least err on the safe 

 side." He adopts the view expressed by Fries in the following 

 words : ** Eas dico plantas indigenas, quae per longam annorum 

 seriem sine omni cultura inter provinciam copiose et definito loco 

 propellarunt et quotannis sunt multiplicatse." He is of opinion that 

 " the safest criterion for resolving doubtful claims to enrolment is to 

 be sought for by reference to the geographical distribution of the 

 species under consideration. The more extended study of this im- 

 portant branch of botanical science would .... go far in removing 

 many of those scruples that are raised against the admission of no 

 small number of our vegetable productions into the aboriginal lists." 

 Accordingly great attention is paid to the continental distribution 

 of all plants upon which much doubt has been cast. Botanists have 

 cause to thank him for this care ; for we are quite convinced that it 

 is the true mode of attaining correct views on this contested subject. 

 It often happens that plants which are now only found in rather 

 doubtful stations in our fully cultivated country are really old natives 

 which have been reduced in quantity or driven from their original 

 sites by improvements in agriculture. When this has happened the 

 plants may now continue to exist in a very few restricted spots, or be 

 found scattered thinly over a large district, maintaining themselves 

 with difficulty in hedgerows or on bits of waste ground. In such 

 cases, it is much the fashion to state boldly that they are not indi- 

 genous, without inquiring if their continental distribution is or is not 

 favourable to their claims to admission amongst British plants. 



It does not seem desirable to extend this notice by entering upon 

 discussion concerning any of the species, although there are many 

 things stated by the author, or introduced by the editors, which do 

 not accord with our views. In some of these cases we feel quite sure 

 that the remarks would have been omitted or modified had the author 

 been permitted to prepare his work for the press ; but the editors 

 have done wisely in printing the manuscript as they found it. It 

 must be remembered that the work has not, alas ! had the benefit of 

 the author's revision since the spring of 1850, and that much advance 

 has been made in our knowledge of British plants during the last six 

 years. These facts do not, however, detract from the value of the 



