BOTANY OF CUMBERLAND. 259 



It must be understood that these remarks, and the following 

 list of plants and localities, relate almost exclusively to the Cum- 

 berland limits of the district; and that the botanical resources of 

 that district have been tolerably well explored by the writer for a 

 lengthened period. His endeavours have also been aided by 

 several friends (whose names are quoted) ; but it is still possible 

 that some of the floral treasures my have been overlooked, or may 

 yet remain undiscovered. Those will be but few, and of course 

 valuable when their localities become known. 



Many common plants are omitted from the list, under the im- 

 pression that what is open to every one's eye needs no record; 

 and numerous localities are also left out as redundant. 



Perhaps no district, of the same limited extent, furnishes a 

 more numerous assemblage of Cryptogamic plants ; — that least 

 explored but very beautiful department, and which may be not 

 inappropriately called winter-botany. 



A great proportion of the singular system of blooming peculiar 

 to this class is developed at the season when most other vegetation 

 is at rest, and therefore uninteresting ; here then may the zealous 

 botanical tourist still continue his study with as much ardour as in 

 the summer; and derive pleasure and edification from the con- 

 templation of the various gay or modest tints of those minute 

 works of the Creator, when the casual observer will find nothing 

 to attract his attention from the general dreariness of a wintry 

 landscape. * 



Those who woidd acquaint themselves with the Mosses and 

 Lichens of the lake and mountain district, will need some degree 

 of perseverance and sure-footedness in exploring the dark ravines 

 and cavernous fissures of the moist and slippery rocks, and of the 

 gloomy woods where these delight to grow ; and will meet with 

 perhaps the greatest variety, and those in the highest perfection, 

 where the sun shines seldomest and the rain falls oftenest amongst 

 them. And it should be remembered that no satisfactory pro- 

 gress can be made in collecting and distinguishing the crypto- 

 gamia when the plants are shrivelled by drought. 

 No little energy will be requisite, also, to hunt out the lichens 



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