PBEFACE. Vll 



A work of this design, to be made complete and accurate, even 

 approximately, needs the cooperation of many observers. No man 

 can possibly explore every nook and corner of a district six-and-thirtv 

 miles across, at every season of the year, and view it under every new 

 aspect induced by cultivation and of atmospheric changes, nor can he 

 pretend to compile a list of its wild-flowers single-handed. He may 

 give a praiseworthy list of his own observations, but not more. While 

 preparing these pages, I have sought the aid, accordingly, of most of 

 the best practical botanists in and about Manchester, and have now 

 the pleasure of at once pointing to the agreeable results that come of 

 friendly union for the purposes of science, and of expressing my 

 gratitude to those who have supplied me with information. My 

 thanks are especially due to Mr. James Percival, jun., President of 

 the Lancashire Botanists' Society ; to Mr. Joseph Evans, of Booths- 

 town, President of the Tyldesley Local Society ; to Mr. Isaac "Wil- 

 liamson, President of the Stockport Botanical Society ; to Mr. John 

 Shaw, of Eccles, and to Mr. Richard Hampson, of Little Hulton, who 

 have enabled me to enrich the volume with a copiousness of authority 

 that could not possibly have strengthened it without their aid. I have 

 the highest pleasure also in recording my indebtedness to my old 

 companions in the woods and fields, Mr. Joseph Sidebotham and 

 Mr. Ferris, whose warm and manly hearts have cast sunshine on my 

 life, both botanical and social ; also to Professor Williamson, Mr. Stone, 

 of the Royal School of Medicine ; Mr. Edward Stone, Mr. Worthing- 

 ton, Mr. William Hunt, Mr. R. Hunt, Mr. Holland, of Mobberley ; 

 Mr. Knight, Mr. T. Browning, Mr. and Mrs. Brownell, of Lymm; 

 Mr. Thomas Coward, Mr. Cornforth, Mr. '"' Stansfield, of Todmorden; 

 Mr. Nowell, of the same place, ar ' .^aj others, some, it is true) 

 not yet scientific botanists in ^' full significance of the term, but 

 animated, every one of them, by a deep and clear- seeing love of 

 the charms of nature, such as qualifies to discern beauties and 

 valuable facts where to the indifferent and incurious " all is barren." 



