PREFACE. 



THE Flora of a single parish, even though an extensive 

 one, can only justify its separate existence by being some- 

 thing more than a mere list of species. If its treatment of 

 the local problems of plant distribution is not sufficiently 

 ample to afford material for wider investigations, it can at the 

 best appeal to but a narrow circle, and remain parochial both 

 in name and in fact. It is hoped that no such reproach can 

 be attached to the present work. Nor is this hope grounded 

 simply on the fact that every group of plants is enumerated, 

 with some approach to completeness, in itself a somewhat 

 exceptional feature ; but rather on the detailed consideration 

 of each species and the application of Watson's principles, 

 supplemented by a description of the characteristic plant 

 communities. In this respect, perhaps, the Flora marks an 

 advance in methods, and by describing the salient features of 

 the vegetation of the Parish, is more likely to be of service 

 both to residents within its borders and to botanists concerned 

 with geographical distribution. 



Since the chapter on plant-associations was written the 

 methods there adopted have been winning their way, and some 

 of the " neglected problems " have already been ably investi- 

 gated. But at the time the only guide available was the first 

 paper by Robert Smith, on " Plant Associations of the Tay 

 Basin." In attempting to apply these methods locally I was 

 greatly assisted by Mr. C. E. Moss. The types both of wood- 

 land and moorland presented features differing in many ways 

 from those described by Smith, and the benefit of discussion 

 with some one who viewed the vegetation of the parish from 

 the same standpoint, proved invaluable in determining the 

 various plant communities that form the Flora, and the mem- 

 bers and the conditions of existence of each. It is a pleasure 

 to see that a botanical survey, begun in this way, has already 



