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Explanatory Notes on certain British Plants for distribution by the 

 Botanical Society of London, in 1850. By H. C. Watson, Esq. 



When last year addressing to the ' Phytologist' (Phytol. iii. 478) 

 a paper on the same subject as this present one, two circumstances 

 appeared to me to be very probable : first, that I should not continue 

 a member of the Botanical Society of London later than 1849 ; and, 

 secondly, that the Society's periodical distribution of specimens 

 would either cease altogether or commence a rapid decrease in value 

 and regularity. Neither of these expectations has been practically 

 verified at present. 



The Society's distributions have been continued mainly through 

 the opportune and valuable assistance given thereto by Mr. French, 

 of London, and Mr. Moore, of the Chelsea Garden. Without the 

 energetic aid of these powerful allies Mr. Dennes might have been 

 left alone, and would in that case have found himself quite unable to 

 effect the arrangement and distribution of the specimens. All three 

 of these gentlemen have professional avocations to occupy closely 

 their time and attention by day ; and they were enabled to manage 

 the botanical distributions of last year only by devoting entire nights 

 to the task. How long their botanical zeal will urge them to this 

 annual exertion and sleep-sacrificing devotedness in carrying out the 

 objects of the Society, it might be unsafe to predict. 



As for myself, although I have renounced individual responsibility 

 in the future management of the Botanical Society of London, and 

 will not be answerable for the dead-lock, towards which some other 

 members are fast forcing it, I find that there still exists a tie strong 

 enough to hold me to the Society as an acting member, — one that 

 cannot be curtly cast off, or materially loosened at present, without 

 some breach of good faith to the foreign contributors. Steps have 

 been taken under my own suggestion, and mostly through my own 

 correspondence with botanists abroad, which have virtually placed 

 the Botanical Society of London under pledge or promise to distri- 

 bute any foreign specimens that may be sent to it, and also to make 

 a return for the same to the respective contributors. Several of these 

 foreign botanists not unreasonably look to me for the fulfilment of the 

 Society's promises that have been conveyed to them by or through me ; 

 and so far as this can be accomplished by an individual member of a 

 Society, while struggling against very serious impediments, conse- 

 quent on the disorderly management of other parties, 1 may acknow- 

 VOL. III. 5 L 



