1857.] ADDRESS OF THE EDITOR. 3 



Mere names of plants are only interesting to a few botanists 

 who take an interest in the range and relative plenty or scarce- 

 ness of species. The results or deductions from such lists will 

 ultimately be both instructive and interesting to all classes of 

 readers ; but while the subject is under consideration and unde- 

 termined, it is like a piece of unfinished work, disagreeable to the 

 beholder. 



Another point is also important in times of economy and re- 

 trenchment, viz. the additional expense of printing lists of plants. 

 This is not a lugubrious entreaty for condolence or sympathy, nor 

 an appeal adcrumenam, to the breeches-pocket of the subscribers. 

 Yet it is a fact that the ' Phytologist^ does not pay the expense 

 of paper and printing ; but let not the subscribers and readers 

 imagine for an instant that the proprietors wish or expect their 

 supporters to make any extraordinary efforts for the financial 

 interests of the periodical. They only hope that, under existing 

 circumstances, they may not have to provide for an increased 

 expenditure on the item of printing. 



The second thing the Editor desires to carry out is a sugges- 

 tion offered by a contributor, and which cannot be brought to 

 bear any fruit whatever unless by the co-operation of several good 

 botanists. It was suggested or recommended as a desirable and 

 practicable thing that all critical British plants should be sub- 

 mitted to some good practical botanist, who would undertake to 

 compare them and publish in the ' Phytologist^ the result of his 

 comparisons. It will be readily admitted that the decisions of 

 any judge, however competent, would be of small value and of 

 less authority unless he had the means of forming a correct esti- 

 mate of the characteristics of critical species. And in order that 

 a sound opinion might be obtained, it was further hinted that 

 botanists from divers quarters of the British Isles should be in- 

 vited to send to the Editor of the ' Phytologist' examples of all 

 critical plants growing naturally within the bounds, or within a 

 reasonable distance of their respective abodes. By comparing an 

 extensive series of critical species, grown probably under varying 

 conditions, as much evidence might be procured as would be 

 available in the determination of the distinctness or wo/^-dis- 

 tinctness of the so-called critical plants. It would be rashness 

 to predict that the decision so obtained, under said circumstances, 

 would give universal satisfaction, or would be implicitly submitted 



