208 LAWSON ON THE FLORA OF 



other of the species that have been already described, so that duplicate names may be 

 eliminated, and onr nomenclature placed on such a basis that equivalent forms — whether 

 species, so-callod subspecies, or varieties, or even less prouounced forms— may be com- 

 pared together irom the several regions, as evidence of community of origin, or otherwise, 

 or to indicate possible or probable sources of derivation. 



At an early period in the century preceding the present one, long before questions 

 of origin had arisen, and long before it was thought of any consequence to mankind to 

 ascertain the possibilities of productive culture on our northern coasts, Liunfeus's "' Tour 

 in Lapland " and the " Flora Lappouica " had excited an interest in these little northern 

 plants from the systematic botanist's point of view. And, while, subsequently, the 

 Scandinavians themselves and the botanists of Russia, have been active in making known 

 the A'egetation of the northern verges of Europe and Asia, so the northern shores of 

 Ameriia and the Greenland coast have been visited by whaling vessels, whose officers 

 have, season after season, carried specimens to British botanists ; but the principal bota- 

 nical work on our shores has been accomplished by the numerous exploring expeditions 

 sent out from time to time by England and the United States, whose collections have been 

 elaborated in the most careful manner and the results systematised and published for 

 general use. 



More recently, substantial work has been done at the meteorological stations for 

 observation on Hudson Strait, and especially by Dr. Robert Bell, scientist and medical 

 officer of the expedition to Hudson Bay in 1884, a list of whose botanical collections, 

 identified by Prof. Macoun, has been published. 



Work still remains to be done by observers who have opportunity, and it may be 

 thus summarised : — To collect and dry specimens in as many conditions or stages of 

 growth as possible, carefully noting (1) dates of collection, (2) kinds of soil, whether sandy, 

 loamy, clayey, peaty (these greatly affecting moisture and temperature). (3) distance from 

 sea shore, elevation above sea-level, (4) surroundings of locality or particular spot where 

 the i^lant is gathered, as regards protection from cold, or conditions of shelter favourable 

 to prolonged humidity of atmosphere or to accumulation of warmth in time of sunshine. 

 These particulars are specially mentioned, not only because they are intrinsically of special 

 importance; but because we had scarcely any systematic observation of them, until 

 the establishment of the stations of observation on Hudson Strait. It is to be hoped that 

 what has been begun so well by the Hudson Strait observers, will be continued and 

 developed by those who have opportunity, from time to time, to add to the information 

 already acquired. These regions are so seldom visited in the ordinary course of travel, 

 and the collection and preservation of specimens is attended with so many difficulties, 

 that even the veriest scraps are welcome to the home botanist. How much more valu- 

 able are specimens, carefully selected so as to show modifications of form, and thus serve 

 to determine questions of specific identity or distinction, or those collected at different 

 times during the seasons of sprouting or budding, leaf-development, flowering, ripening 

 of seeds, and autumn withering, or fall of leaf or browning of evergreens, with dates care- 

 fully recorded, so as to show the beginning, progress and ending of the annual growing 

 period for vegetation. 



In the following tabulation of Mr. Payne's observations, the several columns after 

 that containing the name of the species give : — 



