1861.] ADDRESS OF THE EDITOR. 21 



There are^ it may be assumed, no naturalists, however humble 

 their acquirements are, and however lowly their rank in society 

 may be, who have not seen some hitherto unobserved facts or 

 phase, or phenomenon of nature. Observations, experiences, and 

 useful inferences are, it may further be assumed, often lost be- 

 cause not recorded at the proper time ; this fear of communi- 

 cating the result of experience often arises from mauvaise honte, 

 an excess of modesty which indisposes its possessor to seek pub- 

 licity, lest ridicule and contempt should be the reward of his 

 humble attempts to enlighten others, or to direct them to a source 

 of gratification which has never disappointed him. 



We are far from advising young persons, or indeed any persons 

 not pretty well aware of the difficulties and dangers of literary 

 composition, to seek "■ the bubble reputation " either " at the 

 cannon's mouth " or at the typographer's press. It will assuredly 

 be more for their own ease and comfort if they rather shun than 

 seek notoriety, till they have something to write about which 

 nobody knows but they themselves, and which nobody can tell 

 so well as they can. And even when they have got the materials 

 for composition, if their grammar or their logic fails them, they 

 will find more to laugh at their mistakes than to help them, or 

 to sympathize with them in their disappointment. These need 

 not have the slightest fear when tliey entrust their hoarded scraps 

 and stores of knowledge about plants and their associations to 

 the Editor of the ' Phytologist.' They may freely expatiate on 

 the feelings of delight and joy which they experience when they 

 discover a plant formerly to them unknown ; and they may com- 

 municate the notice of their simple rational pleasures to one who 

 has still as keen a relish for these pursuits as he had in bygone 

 times. If he cannot participate in their enjoyment, he can sym- 

 pathize with them and encourage them. He has not forgotten 

 the good effects on himself of encouragement judiciously be- 

 stowed. The contributions made by those who may very properly 

 be called tyros in botany, will be as safe in his custody as the 

 confession of the penitent in the bosom of the confessor, or as 

 the affairs of a client are in the hands of his legal adviser. There 

 is no blabbing of secrets which are committed to us. We do 

 not print the letters of our private correspondents without so 

 much as saying, ' With your leave ' ! 



Our readers, it is hoped, will tolerate another word, which 



