1862.] ADDRESS OF THE EDITOR. 7 



they never learned it ; and it would be of little use to them if 

 they had. In the first place, our lady-readers are not expected 

 to possess this accomplishment ; and we have the happiness of 

 informing our friends that this class is increasing; and for their 

 sakes it is our duty, as it is our pleasure, to suffer nothing to be 

 published which it is probable they would not understand. 

 Again, there are some of our very stauuchest friends who can 

 distinguish minuter shades of distinction in plants than those 

 which divide the Cowslip from the Primrose, but who are not clas- 

 sical scholars, i.e. coald not construe a line of Virgil or Homer 

 to save them from the gallows. It would be absurd to believe 

 that they possessed such qualifications. 



The Editor cannot afford, even if he had the inclination, which 

 he has not, either to tantalize, disappoint, or alienate, his best 

 friends. With all deference to his learned readers, to whom 

 he wishes daily accessions both of wisdom and knowledge, he 

 must indulge his good-nature so far as to endeavour to convey to 

 every reader the meaning of what has been published, on his 

 responsibility, for general information, or satisfaction, or plea- 

 sure. 



It is hoped that this explanation will be satisfactory, and that 

 henceforth no offence will be taken at our doing what many of 

 our readers would consider a sort of benefaction. Be this as it 

 may, when a scrap of Latin comes to us from any quarter what- 

 ever, it will receive the best translation which we can afford ; but 

 it is hoped and desired that there may be as little occasion for 

 the exercise of this right as possible, and that the writers will 

 generally be content to write their reflections in plain English. 

 Fair warning is now given to all who write in this piebald 

 fashion that their learned quotations will be always accompanied 

 by words which convey the sense in our mother-tongue. 



The first important fact recorded in the simple annals of the 

 past year, and to be here briefly recapitulated, is an account of 

 a new station for Arenaria balearica. The locality is in Dorset- 

 shire, far from the Scottish place where it was first observed, 

 but quite as likely to be a genuine one as the Perthshire station. 

 The authority is that of the noble owner who has known the 

 plant there for almost a quarter of a century. 



Perhaps the most interesting discovery of the year was that of 

 Verbascum thapsiforme in Kent, not far from Ashford. For a 



