EXPLANATOEY NOTE. 



IN introducing to the reader the first instalment of the 

 new local Flora which has been undertaken by the Bristol 

 Naturalists' Society, a few words from the President may serve 

 to explain both the origin of the work and the method in which 

 it is proposed to carry it out. 



The want of a published Flora embracing the whole of the 

 district known as the Bristol Coal-field, with its wide diversity 

 of hill and dale, wood, river, and rnarsh, and its great variety 

 of geological formation, has been long felt by the local botanist ; 

 and our Society had not been many years in existence before 

 this want found expression in a series of resolutions, which 

 were submitted by Mr. Leipner, the Honorary Secretary, and 

 which pledged the members to undertake the registration of all 

 objects of natural history found within a specified area, with a 

 view to publication. These resolutions were adopted by the Society 

 so long ago as the year 1864, but, although considerable progress 

 has been made in other departments of natural history, it was 

 not until about two years since that any systematic attempt was 

 made to collect materials for a Phanerogamic Flora. In the 

 spring of 1879 a programme of weekly excursions was organised 

 by the Botanical Section of the Society, with the definite object of 

 acquiring such a knowledge of the Botany of the district as 

 might justify the publication of a Flora. These excursions have 

 been continued in each succeeding year, and have been useful in 

 keeping up a general interest in the work ; although, necessarily, 

 the chief labour has fallen upon a very few individuals. To the 

 Honorary Secretary of the Botanical Section, who edits the 

 publication, the Society is especially indebted. 



The area chosen by the Society for the botanical, as for the 

 other fields of research and registration, is that adopted by the 



187622 



