417 



of the multitude, and the ravages of children attracted by its beautiful 

 flowers, still it bore a very healthy appearance. 1 may, however, re- 

 mark that the specimens were not of very great height, the tallest not 

 exceeding a foot and a half. 



Should this interesting plant be a desideratum with any of your 

 readers, I shall feel a pleasure in communicating specimens. 



Geo. Lawson. 

 Hawkhill, Dundee, 

 December, 1845. 



Stray Tlioughts on Botanical Rambles and Visits ; suggested hy Mr. 

 Hewett Cottrell JVatson^s " Remarks on the usefulness of a 

 Periodical devoted to British Botany^ By G. Lawson, Esq. 



In perusing Mr. Watson's " Remarks on the usefulness of a Perio- 

 dical devoted to British Botany," which appeared in the January 

 number of the ' Phytologist'' (Phytol. ii. 379), I was somewhat surpris- 

 ed to notice the disrespect with which he regards the contributions 

 which appear under the head of "rambles and visits," for I have all 

 along considered contributions of such a character highly valuable, 

 not the less from their being amusing and interesting than being in- 

 structive and highly beneficial to science, and always up till the date 

 of the appearance of Mr. Watson's paper, 1 have been under the im- 

 pression that such was the universal opinion of botanists on the point. 



I am sori-y to occupy any of your valuable space with remarks on 

 this subject, and would have said not a word in regard to it j but 

 when I consider that what Mr. Watson has stated may, if allowed to 

 pass without observation, be the means of deterring many able con- 

 tributors from transmitting you for record their valuable observations, 

 which, perhaps, from circumstances could be put into no other feasi- 

 ble shape than a " ramble " or a " visit," I feel called upon to make a 

 few remarks, and these tending to show that all the readers do not, or 

 at least ought not to peruse what he is pleased to class amongst the 

 " poorest contributions" with the same indignant spirit. I shall, 

 however, be very brief, as I am fully aware that the pages of the 

 * Phytologist ' might be occupied by matter which would prove much 

 more intei-esting to the readers generally than the present. 



The reason Mr. Watson urges for the exclusion of such contribu- 

 tions is, I admit, one of very great importance ; but 1 really do not 

 think that the end in view, viz., the rendering the 'Phytologist' "a 



