AVt PREFACE. * 
What) must Ireland, or even one 
county produce, when Howth, a small 
tract of ground contiguous to Dublin, 
containing about 900 acres, produces 
such varieties; and although often 
searched with diligence by many pro- 
fessed adepts in botany, yet scarce 
any return without a fresh discovery. 
This remark has also been made to 
me by a man whose general know- 
ledge of plants is scarcely to be 
equalled in the British dominions; 
and to whose abilities I acknowledge 
myself much indebted, for the many 
instructions I have received from him 
at the commencement of my _ botani- 
cal studies.* 
Many persons may be desirous of 
knowing the cause, and upon what 
foundation I have taken to compile 
generic and specific names in Irish 
for 
* Mr. John Underwood, head gardener to the Right 
Hon. and Hon. the Dublin Society. 
