825 



2ndly. The carelessness in recording localities in which a plant 

 has really been gathered. 



3rdly. Ignorance of species, by which a name has frequently been 

 misapplied. 



In making the proposed communications, every species, the identity 

 of which admitted of a doubt, should be submitted to some botanist 

 thoroughly conversant with British plants. Such, for instance, as 

 Mr. Borrer, Dr. Bromfield, Mr. Watson, Sir Wilham Hooker, Mr. 

 Luxford or Mr. Babington. These gentlemen are rarely mistaken 

 about a flowering plant, and their authority would add weight and 

 value to every record of the kind required, and there is little doubt 

 that either of them would lend a helping hand in such a cause. Mr. 

 Watson's idea of giving a sketch of the range of each species is a 

 most admirable one, and one which calls loudly for the zealous sup- 

 port of his botanical brethren in all parts of the empire. 



The total omission of Ireland from the ' Cybele ' leaves a vast field 

 of labour open for the ardent botanists of that country, a field from 

 whence the most interesting results may be anticipated : how little is 

 known, even at this moment, of the heaths of Ireland ! and how rich 

 is that country in this beautiful order ! It would require, not merely 

 a railway trip or a Bianconi expedition, but a summer's residence in 

 the west and south-west of Ireland to acquire even a moderate know- 

 ledge of her Flora. 1 hope the idea will not be lost sight of, but 

 that ere long the ' Phytologist ' may be made the vehicle of the ' Pri- 

 mitiae ' of a ' Cybele Hibemica.' 



Edward Newman. 



" Note upon the Natural History of Truffles, and their Mode of 

 Production. By M. Robert." 



"It is well known that naturalists are by no means agreed as to the 

 origin and mode of propagation of the truffle {Tuber ciharium), so 

 highly prized by epicures. M. Robert has made some observations 

 on these productions, which he has collected in some abundance in 

 the forests of the department of the Basses-Alpes. They are chiefly 

 found in the immediate neighbourhood of the evergreen oak ; and 

 scarcely ever occur beyond the shade projected by the tree. If the 

 tree dies, or is cut down, the truffles disappear. But indejjendently 

 of the influence of trees in the production of truffles, there is yet 



