PREEACE. 



Before issuing the Sixth and last Volume of the Second Series 

 of the ' Phytologist/ the Proprietors desire very cordially to 

 tender their warmest acknowledgments to the contributors and 

 subscribers, to whom they are solely indebted for both the ma- 

 terial and the pecuniary support of this periodical. 



The approaching retirement of the Publisher affords a con- 

 venient opportunity for making fresh arrangements, which will 

 be communicated to our friends and the public at the earliest 

 possible period. 



We have long entertained a settled conviction, founded on 

 experience and history also, that a high-priced scientific perio- 

 dical does not possess the essential elements of commercial pro- 

 sperity, and therefore cannot obtain an extensive circulation. 

 First, its readers are few, for comparatively a small portion of 

 the reading public takes any interest in its contents. Secoyidly, 

 its price must be high^ to cover the expense of publication. This 

 consequently restricts its currency to the wealthier students 

 of science, viz. those who can afford to buy dear books. There 

 may be, and doubtless there are, minor collateral reasons of 

 failure ; but the above-mentioned fundamental facts are the real 

 causes of non-success. 



It is not admitted that the ' Phytologist' has been a failure. 

 It has been now for nearly a quarter of a century almost the 

 sole medium of communication among Botanists who study or 

 collect the British plants. It has also afforded them the means 

 of permanently recording their discoveries. That this has been 

 useful to the present age, and will be more so to posterity, no 

 one can or will dispute. But it need not be concealed that this 

 has been accomplished at a pecuniary sacrifice to the Proprietors, 

 which none know so well as they themselves. But as this result- 

 was not unforeseen, it has never been made the subject of peevish 

 complaint. 



