IV PREFACE. 



that it was undertaken mainly for the purpose of assisting 

 those members of the College who may be fond of Botany, 

 and that any value which it may have beyond this is only 

 what any ordinary list of the kind would possess. 



The list of localities will, I fear, be found somewhat de- 

 fective ; but I have preferred leaving the book thus imper- 

 fect, to giving any statements which I could not fully con- 

 firm. It is quite possible, and in many instances probable, 

 that plants which are mentioned as occurring in only one or 

 two places may prove to be very generally distributed : on 

 this account I have not given, as I had originally intended, 

 a Table showing the distribution of the plants in each district. 

 Much, undoubtedly, still remains to be done ; but I hope 

 that this first approximation to a complete List of the Flora 

 of our neighbourhood may not be without its use to those 

 who seek information on the subject. 



The limit I have chosen is a circle with a radius of six 

 miles from Marlborough, the ground within which I have 

 divided into four Districts. So large a portion of the 

 locality lies on the Chalk, that I have found it impracticable 

 to divide it into districts with reference to its geological 

 characteristics. There are, however, well-marked features 

 about the Valley of the Kennet and Savernake Forest ; and 

 as definite boundary-lines are advisable, I have taken four 

 roads diverging from Marlborough, as being the most con- 

 venient for my purpose. These are the Bath Eoad, bound- 

 ing the water-meadows by the Kennet ; the Salisbury Koad, 



