XXXV 



be several manuscript authorities in addition to others already 

 in print elsewhere. 



Further, the sign of certainty (!) will follow the names of 

 counties in which the plant has heen seen by the Compiler 

 himself, and some note of the fact kept as an aid to memory. 

 This abbreviation will double the testifiers to several of the 

 counties, and without any real increase of text. It must 

 often be omitted, however, through failure of memory or 

 absence of memorandum. The occasional exchange to italic 

 letters will indicate a decided suspicion that the plant is non- 

 indigenous in the county so distinguished, neither native nor 

 sufficiently established and constant to be properly taken into 

 the category of denizen or colonist. The obelisk sign (t) 

 affixed after the name of a botanist, will signify that he men- 

 tions or marks the plant as being likely an introduction 

 but individual botanists apply the mark so unequally or 

 dissimilarly, one compared with another, that a free leave of 

 choice must be taken here in the addition or omission of it ; 

 the more so, because the alternative signs (* t) are reduced 

 to the single one (t). The query (?) will indicate more or less 

 of doubt or uncertainty. 



Printed books will be referred to so seldom and exceptionally 

 that it may be taken for a fixed rule (not quite invariably 

 adhered to) that only original personal authorities will be cited, 

 and these shewn by manuscripts in the compiler's own 

 possession ; and the counties which can be so vouched will 

 be seen to be numerous. Those names of counties which are 

 unconnected with the name of some botanist, or by the sign 

 of certainty (!) above explained, must be understood to rest 

 solely on some such authority announced elsewhere. Space 

 and time sufficing, some explanations concerning those autho- 

 rities may possibly be appended after the detail of counties. 

 Published works of course are open to any else, equally as 

 to the compiler of this book; and those who require their 

 personal authorities can consult the local Floras and other 



