138 THE LITERATURE OF BOTANY. 



Mill. He says, in his Autobiograpy, "his strong relish 

 for accurate classification was brought about by his study 

 of botany." His short communications on botany were 

 chiefly, if not exclusively, published in a monthly magazine 

 called the " Phytologist." In the early numbers of this 

 periodical will be found frequent notes and short papers 

 on the facts of plant-distribution, brought to light by Mr. 

 Mill during his botanical rambles. He was a keen searcher 

 after wild plants. It is believed from the mass of notes 

 and observations it was his intention to print them as a 

 foundation to a " Flora " at Avignon, the place where he 

 so long resided and where he is laid. Mr. Mill left his 

 herbarium to the gardens at Kew. 



I must, in concluding my list of worthies, mention two 

 names of gentlemen in our county, members of our club, 

 who have contributed in no small degree to the Literature 

 of Botany Mr. Bateman, in his valuable work on 

 " Orchidacea3," and our esteemed friend Mr. Garner, our 

 companion and mentor in many of our pleasant botanical 

 rambles, in his charming book the "Natural History of 

 Staffordshire," and other works. 



I may perhaps in this paper have dwelt too long upon 

 classification, and the growth, as a science, of botany, to 

 the exclusion of a more attractive and deeply-interesting 

 phase of the subject; I mean the poetic and legendary 

 interest that is so closely attached to it. 



There is hardly a familiar wilding in our hedges and 

 brook sides that does not call to mind some poem or 

 fragment of folk lore. Indeed, many of the old English 

 names, which I hope may never be lost, often tell their 

 own story. If I have succeeded in interesting you at all 



