211 



edges of the cotyledons ; but in the true S. fruticosa, supposing that 

 name to be correctly applied only M'here the seed is tubercled and 

 hairless, he finds a portion of albumen, but the extremity of the coty- 

 ledons still close to the point of the embryo. 



The author concludes with the following resume : — "If I were to 

 sum up the results of my observations of this year on the genus Sali- 

 cornia, I should say that S. procumbens is a distinct species ; that S. 

 radicans and S. lignosa are certainly specifically distinct from S, her- 

 bacea ; but whether they are so from each other, and whether, if that 

 be the case, S. lignosa ought not to be considered as a variety of S. 

 fruticosa, L., and the plant with tubercled seeds to be called S. mega- 

 stachya, I do not feel competent to decide. The other forms of S. 

 pusilla, S. intermedia, and S. ramosissima, may perhaps be varieties 

 of S. herbacea, but this also is a subject for further investigation." 



Letter from Dr. Drummond, in reference to the Observations on his 

 views of the Linnean and Natural Systems of Botany, contained 

 in the Notice of the Sixth Edition of the ' British Flora,' (Phytol. 

 iv. 170). 



In your number for the present month, you make some remarks on 

 ray ' Observations on Natural Systems of Botany,' which I consi- 

 der unwarrantably personal ; and you will allow me to state to your 

 readers that I am very far indeed from being the whining character 

 you have repi-esented. When I published that little work, 1 knew 

 perfectly well that the hue and cry would be raised against it, but 

 having no superstitious veneration for great or popular names, and as 

 little regard for any injurious system of botany, however fashionable, 

 or however supported by them, I published boldly what 1 conceived 

 to be the truth, regardless of any fair criticism, but certainly not ex- 

 pecting to meet with a tide of misrepresentation. 



Now I wish to inform your readers that the book contains nothing 

 whatever to warrant you or any one else in insinuating that it was 

 written as if the author were overwhelmed with grief (I wonder what 

 I should cry about !), and that I used no " dolorous terms,''' made no 

 " lachrymose observations,'''' and uttered no " lamentations,'' as is 

 represented in the ' Phytologist.' 



Now, Sir, I will only say further, that I care not how severely the 

 * Observations ' may be criticised, but let this be done in good faith, 



