INTRODUCTION. 



SEVEN years have elapsed since the Botanical Section 

 resolved to commence the compilation of a local Flora. 

 At that time our knowledge of the plants of the district was 

 very imperfect ; but in view of the fact that the publicatien 

 could only be issued by annual instalments spread over a 

 lengthened period, it was not considered wise to defer the 

 beginning, lest perchance the end might never be attained. 

 Thus, under many adverse conditions, the work was under- 

 taken and carried through ; gathering, as it advanced year 

 by year, increased solidity and completeness, in proportion to 

 the growing extent and accuracy of our own information. 



Knowing this, the reader will need no explanation of what 

 is plainly perceptible ; namely, that the later portions of the 

 " Flora " are distinctly superior to the earlier ones, both in 

 knowledge of the occurrence of individual species, and in 

 fulness of detail concerning their distribution. 



"Additions" to parts previously published preface each 

 of the last four numbers, and show how rapid has been our 

 progress towards an exact acquaintance with Bristol botany. 

 The sum of the species given in regular sequence is 986. 

 Besides these, seventeen are recorded in the additions, mak- 

 ing in all the large total of 1,003 species treated as inhabi- 

 tants of the Bristol Coal-field. It may eventually be found 

 that two or three of these have been included on insufficient 



