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en 2 vArK 
= “aC AL, 
EARDEAN 
PREFACE. 
Tue want of an illustrated Continental Fiora has long been felt by 
tourists, invalids, and others, who fail, either from want of power or 
inclination, to determine their plants by the present available means. 
Though unable at present to commence such an undertaking, I hope 
that the present work may afford some facilities which may induce 
not a few invalids and others to turn their attention to the study 
of the wild flowers of the district, and thus find a pleasant subject 
for recreation. When considering the thousands of idle hands which 
every winter pull myriads of flowers to pieces south of the Alps, and 
the thousand restless energies all craving for employment in weary 
satiety of absolute rest, it becomes quite a marvel that these hundred- 
fn 
anded colonies of English should so rarely be set to work at drawing 
“5 for publication some few of the wonderful objects of Natural History by 
which they are everywhere surrounded. In the water, the earth, the 
Love Tike. 
Cd ae 
- air, unknown wonders await diligent search and investigation, while 
the host of things half-known teems with opportunity for scientific 
inquiry. Well-directed research in any definite direction must afford 
happy employment for the invalid, and tend towards the advance- 
ment of knowledge. Being therefore convinced that I had_ better 
AY 15 1915 2706 
{ 
Vi 
