1896.] Prakger. — Botanical Subdivision of Irelayid. 33 



It may be stated at once that this arrangement differs from 

 that of Babingtoii, first, as regards the subdivision of the 

 counties of Cork, Kerry, Galway, and Donegal ; and secondly, 

 in the renumbering of the counties and vice-counties according 

 to a different plan. It will be seen that the figures ascend 

 regularly from the extreme south-west of the country to the 

 extreme north-east, the numbering following a backwards- 

 and-forwards line, irrespective of the *' province " boundaries. 



In working out the above scheme, the following considera- 

 tions influenced the subdivision of the larger counties : — 



Natural Bou7idaries.—WhQre clearly-defined natural bound- 

 aries, botanical, geological, or physical, exist, it is manifestly 

 advantageous that they should be followed ; but it is not always 

 possible to follow them, on account of other considerations. 

 The convenience of county-divisions is so great, that except 

 in the subdividing of a large county, it does not appear 

 desirable to forsake county boundaries. 



Eq2calizatio7i of Areas. — It is also desirable that, so far as 

 possible, the country should be divided into portions of 

 approximately equal area ; but here again, the less the 

 arrangement by counties is disturbed the better. 



Utilization of past or future botanical Work. — It is manifestly 

 desirable that the scheme as regards subdivision of counties 

 should harmonize with the subdivisions used, or to be used, 

 in published or future county or local floras; since this will 

 save a large amount of labour, when it comes to working out 

 the flora of each vice-county. 



Nature of Boundaries. — Where a new boundary-line is re- 

 quired, it is desirable that it should be something conspicuous 

 — a railway, road, or river — in order that it may be easily found 

 in the field ; an imaginary line, such as a straight line between 

 two places, though it looks very well on a map, is often 

 difficult to trace in the field. 



lyCt me now take up in turn each of the cases in which the 

 plan suggested differs from that proposed by Babington, ex- 

 plain the nature of the change, and give the reasons. 



Cork. — Is now divided into three vice- counties (3, 4, 5), by two N.W. 

 and S.E. lines. Babington divided it into two vice-counties, one much 

 larger than the other, by the east and west course of the River Sullane 

 and its continuation the River Lee. In that useful little flora. The 

 Flowering Plants and Ferns of the County Cork (1883), the author, Rev, 



