138 SWISS FLO WEBS. 



most rare, and do not scruple to get as much of it as 

 they possibly can. 



The societies for exchanges carried out in the following 

 manner have, too, a very fatal effect. It is scarcely to 

 be wondered at that the Report speaks of it as enough 

 to make the hair stand on end to read a list of some of 

 the plants demanded : among the rest, Papaver Alpinura, 

 as many as possible, entire plants, in bud and in fruit; 

 Dianthus csesius, fifty large tufts; Cheiranthus Cheiii, 

 twenty large specimens ; and Arabis arenosa, as many as 

 possible — these two being rare; as many as possible of 

 Pyrola minor ; and one hundred good specimens, with rootSj 

 of Inula Vaillantii. What flora could stand against this, 

 when, in addition, cart-loads of the commoner kinds were 

 required ? 



Botanists, also, would do well to be cautious to whom 

 they show the rarest plants and mention the localities where 

 they are found. And surely botanists should be the last 

 persons to need the request that they would content them- 

 selves with a specimen or two when they find anything rare, 

 and thus leave to others a share of the pleasure they have 

 so much enjoyed. From the mountain-pastures, so abun- 

 dantly adorned and coloured by their flowery treasures, 

 there can be no harm in picking a posy to adorn the hat or 

 a bouquet to garnish the table-d'hote. But the cases should 

 be rare where the plant is taken up root and all ; else the 



