17 



3. — Notes on a proposed ee-isstji; of the Floea of Hertfoed- 



SHIEE, WITH SUPPLEJIEXTAET ReMAEKS ON THE BoTANY OF 



THE Watford Disteict. 



By K. A. Prtor, B.A., F.L.S. 

 [Read 8tli April, 1875.] 



MoEE than five-and-twenty years have elapsed since the publi- 

 cation of the ' Flora Hertfordiensis.' In the mean time Botanical 

 Science has been continually advancing ; changes have been made 

 alike in nomenclature and arrangement ; and many new forms have 

 been brought into notice. 



Nor has it been otherwise with our knowledge of the Local Flora. 



The fresh material that has accumulated during the same period 

 has been in pai-t collected in the various Supplements that have 

 been issued at intervals — an inconvenient arrangement on account 

 of the increased difficulty of reference ; other particulars have from 

 time to time appeared in different scientific periodicals ; but a large 

 proportion, the result of the investigations of the last few years, 

 remains altogether unpublished. 



The gradual changes that are being effected in the surface of the 

 country through the extended operations and improved methods of 

 the agriculturist, together with the spread of population and great 

 increase in building, have almost, if not altogether, extirpated 

 several of our choicer rarities ; while the same causes have led to 

 the introduction of a considerable number of exotics, for the most 

 part of but very ephemeral duration, but in some cases likely to 

 become permanently established. 



Questions as to the nativity and distribution of British plants 

 have of late years, owing in a great measure to the writings of Mr. 

 Watson, risen into more prominence ; and all botanists, however 

 much they may differ in their views of specific limitation, will 

 acknowledge the importance of ascertaining precisely what forms 

 are included under the aggregate names of the older catalogues. 



Unequalled as was perhaps the ' Flora Hertfordiensis ' at the date 

 of its original publication, and excellent as it still remains, there is 

 yet room for addition and improvement. 



To this end, the sur\-iviag editor, the Rev. E,. H. Webb, has, in 

 the most generous manner, allowed me the use of his manuscript 

 material ; and I am in addition indebted already to the kindness of 

 several correspondents for information of interest ; indeed the last 

 few months have added several novelties to our list. 



I shall be very grateful for any communications bearing upon 

 the subject ; however few in number, or unimpoifant they may 

 appear by themselves, in combination with other facts of a similar 

 character they have their own value, and may supply the key to 

 some hitherto insoluble problem in our local botany. 



To make the nature of my especial requii-ements more plain, I 

 have put together the following lists : 



No. I. — Comprises the segregate forms, of whatever rank, which 



VOL. I. — PT. I. 2 



