PEEFACE. 



l&TC 



THIS book is not issued as containing a complete record of 

 the Flora of Derbyshire, but as a pioneer of future efforts 

 towards obtaining full information of the plants growing within 

 its boundaries, since very little has been done in that part of 

 the county where the coal measures occur. It is, therefore, 

 to be hoped that the issue of this publication may have the 

 effect of stirring up the Botanists living in this part of the 

 county to work out the subject of it ; and may the perusal of 

 the following pages have this further result, that those who 

 study the distribution of flowering and other plants in our 

 country may be led by that study into a deeper admiration 

 of God's works, and a more profound reverence for the wisdom 

 of Him who has appointed the variations of climate, the 

 recurrence of the seasons in their order, and the bounds of 

 man's habitation ; and who has displayed in the wondrously 

 adapted organs of the lowliest plants Almighty power and 

 Infinite love ! Studying His wonders in creation, even in 

 that portion of His works included in botanical research, 

 may every reader of this work be led to desire a more 

 intimate acquaintance with the wonders of redeeming love, 

 beside which even creative power is comparatively small ! 



I shall be glad to receive communications giving informa- 

 tion respecting the plants mentioned in the following pages, 

 or any that may be hereafter discovered in Derbyshire. 



W. HUNT PAINTEB. 



KNYPERSLEY HALL, 



CONGLETON, 

 July, 1889. 



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