13 ADDRESS OF THE EDITOR. [January, 



Some of our readers, perhaps many, have seen an unkind notice 

 of Mr. Sim^s discoveries, which we consider of no mean or com- 

 mon order, by one of our readers who is notoriously unfriendly 

 to the ' Phytologist.' The author of the aforementioned notifi- 

 cation ratlier harshly blames our correspondent, and it may be 

 added, the inoffensive bumble person with whom Mr. Sim is so 

 kind as to correspond. 



Another of our correspondents sent us a rather reprehen- 

 sive review of the effusion to which only an allusion has been 

 made. This review was declined, for reasons which appeared co- 

 gent to us, and it is hoped that they were satisfactory to our 

 correspondent who sent us the article. 



We do not, on the present occasion, mean to trouble our rea- 

 ders any further about this offensive paper ; though if left alto- 

 gether unanswered, it might possibly be injurious to us, and it 

 was probably circulated with such an intent; but any of our 

 friends may, on application, have a perusal of this and of several 

 other similar documents. 



The Editor trusts that his friends and well-wishers will have 

 patience with him for a month^ only a little month^ and then he 

 engages to prove to their entire satisfaction, that he is not guilty 

 of printing and publishing false and groundless reports, nor of 

 what is far worse, falsifying his Index to hide his own careless- 

 ness. He is as innocent of both those charges as he is of taking 

 improper liberties with the wife of his friend, or of stealing his 

 neighbour's sheep. 



The Editor published it, (the reader may say, what ? — let him 

 have patience, the whole case shall be laid before him,) as an ex- 

 ample and illustration of the physical capabilities of some plants 

 to bear considerable vicissitudes of climate, — as a fact confirma- 

 tive, not subversive, of Nature's law, viz. that the distribution of 

 plants, or the extent of the earth's surface which they may occupy 

 here and there, is limited strictly by their idiosyncrasies, or, in 

 other words, all other laws, (but those determined by the ability 

 of the plant to bear heat or cold or any atmospheric change 

 whatever,) made and provided for limiting the areas or the alti- 

 tudes of species are vain illusions, the idle fancies of would-be- 

 thought discoverers of the laws of Nature. 



* The whole material necessary for dealing with tliis case is now in the hands of 

 a correspondent who will treat the affair with justice and moderation. 



