419 



and I cannot think for a moment that any of the readers would hesi- 

 tate in giving a few additional pence for the carrying out of so 

 desirable an object. If this is not done, but the "rambles" and 

 " visits " excluded, the ' Phytologist ' will lose much of its interest. 

 It will then become a mere " matter-of-fact " record, similar in all 

 respects to the diary or ledger of a man of business, and will not be 

 perused with so much interest or be of the like service to science it is 

 at present. It is important that facts be recorded not only in the 

 pages of the * Phytologist ' but on the mind of every student of sci- 

 ence, and this can only be done by a familiar narration, which is 

 most easily got at in such a form as that referred to, viz., a " ramble " 

 or a " visit." 



I have long ere now conversed with several botanists on the sub- 

 ject, and have found their opinions of rambles to agree in every par- 

 ticular with my own. 



Mr. Watson suggests as another means of adding to the space 

 required for the admission of the additional matter " the easy and re- 

 quired process of pruning down those exuberant articles, whose 

 purpose is little more than to say over again matters previously on 

 record, and sufficiently well understood." I may, however, remark in 

 regard to this, that I have very seldom, if ever, met with such articles 

 in the pages of the ' Phytologist.' Indeed, I have not, as yet, read 

 an article in it which 'pruning would not materially injure, and I am 

 fully satisfied that the remedy here would be worse than the disease, 

 for if " pruning " is resorted to, much information must necessarily be 

 omitted. There is a decided difference betwixt literary and scien- 

 tific periodicals : the articles for the former may be pruned, but it is 

 dangerous to prune the latter. 



I fear, however, I have already extended my notes too far, but hope 

 the importance of the subject in hand, though not strictly speaking 

 botanical^ will plead my excuse for thus trespassing on your valuable 

 pages. I mean no offence to Mr. Watson, and hope he will take my 

 remarks kindly, for in such a spirit are they given. 



Geo. Lawson. 



108, Hawkhill, Dundee, 

 January, 1846. 



