48o THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 



the 'Journal of Botany' from time to time, the Editor, 

 Mr. J. Britten, being a specialist in this field), status, and 

 distribution of British species. In this direction there are 

 a large number of British botanists, specialists, who have an 

 intimate knowledge of critical genera, and articles from 

 their pens appear from time to time. The foremost 

 authority in this matter is Mr. G. C. Druce, of Oxford, who 

 has furthermore studied more counties of the British Isles 

 in detail than any other British botanist, and probably knows 

 more species, varieties, and forms than anyone else. 



In regard to the general course to be followed in pursuing 

 this study I cannot do better than refer the student to the 

 introductory part of Willis's ' Manual and Dictionary of 

 Flowering Plants and Ferns,' where suggestions as to how 

 to proceed and the method of commencing work are given ; 

 and in this work the student will also find a list of selected 

 orders to be studied enumerated. 



Advice is further added as to how to use botanic gardens, 

 recommended below, which should be followed (Dr. WiUis 

 is himself now in charge of the well-known Ceylon Gardens). 

 Following this come notes upon botanical museums which 

 should render invaluable aid by means of reference col- 

 lections. Notes on general field work, outfit of collectors, 

 collecting, preserving, and recording are also appended. The 

 latter may be read in connection with section i {supra). The 

 limits of space permit the author to give only a few other 

 hints as to how to follow up special work in systematic 

 botany. As most botanists have not the time or means to 

 travel to every part of the British Isles to see or collect 

 types of each species, a valuable substitute for this exists in 

 the exchange clubs, the Watson Botanical Exchange Club 

 (Secretary, G. Goode, Lyndhurst, De Freville Avenue, 

 Cambridge), the British Isles Exchange Club (Secretary, 

 G. C. Druce, Yardley Lodge, Crick Road, Oxford). A 



