I860.] ADDRESS OF THE EDITOR. 9 



It ought to be understood that botanists who are unwilling, 

 either from physical weakness or other infirmities, to associate 

 with their brethren, should not send their names. 



There are, indeed, many professional men who love the science, 

 and who would render all possible aid to a stranger, but who are 

 hindered by their neeessary avocations from enjoying this plea- 

 sure. Almost all botanists, however, who can enjoy this expen- 

 sive luxury of tourification on n on- professional objects are pro- 

 fessionals themselves, and therefore little or no inconvenience 

 can arise on this score. 



The benefit to science would be much, and the advantage to 

 sociality, kind feeling, liberality, and enlargement of both mind 

 and heart, would be more. We have known botanists travel 

 thirty miles to procure a plant, to see it growing in its native 

 place, to observe all the accidents and circumstances respecting 

 it. It would be far more gratifying to go double the distance to 

 see a fellow-student, who could probably lead us to the station 

 of half-a-dozen rare plants, and, what is better, give us an op- 

 portunity of knowing and appreciating himself; teaching us by 

 an example how much a man is better worth seeing than any 

 plant, however rare and valuable it may be. 



It is hereby requested that all botanists who are desirous of 

 taking part in this new movement should forthwith transmit to 

 the ' Phy tologist ' their names and address. Further, as the list 

 will be but a scanty one if it embrace only our usual correspon- 

 dents, it will be necessary that every one who takes an active part 

 in this should get the names and address of as many as are desi- 

 rous of aiding us in this undertaking. 



The list of contributors issued with each volume of the ' Phy- 

 tologist ' does not answer our purpose. Many of our corre- 

 spondents are anonymous ; others give their names without their 

 locality, and, what is a graver objection, we have no right to 

 assume that they will all courteously receive strangers and help 

 them in their botanical researches in these respective localities. 

 It may be so, and we hope it is, and from our own experience we 

 know it is ; but we will not take the liberty of acting on our 

 own experience and knowledge. 



An assurance is required that the persons whose names are 

 proposed to constitute our projected list are willing to afford all 

 the assistance they can. Strangers must not be exactive. It is 



N. S. VOL. IV. e 



