BOTANICAL SUBJECTS. 



PREFACE. 



My intention at first was to have given these Xotes the humble 

 title of " Botanical Xotes," but that title might misrepresent their 

 nature. They are in reality notes on botanical phenomena, viewed 

 from the broad and philosophical standpoint of the modern theory 

 of evolution, and hence the present title seemed more appropriate. 



It may, perhaps, be objected that I have given too many 

 quotations, but in attempting to handle such sul>jects as these, I 

 had to show what others may have thought on the same points, 

 lest it might be said, as has already been said on another occasion, 

 that the ideas given forth are " wholly my own," in Avhich state- 

 ment there may be lurking an insinuation that they are therefore 

 wholly worthless. 



Now why do people publish a lot of things, which those who 

 may be good enough to read them often think rubbish ? One 

 often hears it asked — what is the use of adding another volume to 

 what is already known to be so much lumber ? 



The fact is that, in this stage of human existence, certain 

 thoughts are often a great w^orry. One often cannot get rid of 

 them. They turn up by day, they turn up at night, they turn up 

 in the morning, they haunt one at all times, and the only remedy 

 for mitigating this worry of civilisation is to commit them to 

 pajDcr.* 



* This is graphically illustrated by Sir Edviu Arnold. He says, " Some- 

 times the Hues are importunate, and will be at once registered, lieading, 

 smoking, driving, dressing for dinner, it does not matter how yon may be 

 engaged, the verses >vill haimt you, fascinate you, dance before your imagina- 

 tion, demanding to be fixed ; and you must catch them then and tliere or they 

 will go. Sometimes the right ideas will come as suddenly as if by electric 

 message."— i?et'. of Rev., 15 Aug. 1892, p. 168. 



