50^, i'^ 



PREFACE. 



I.\ succeeding' the able and experienced editorsliip of Mr. W. 

 Denison Roebuck, we asked the indulgence of the subscribers 

 in our work. This has been amply accorded, and our best 

 thanks are tendered for their practical aid and encouragement. 

 This has made our task a pleasant one, and we anticipate with 

 confidence a continued period of usefulness and increased value 

 for the journal. Our thanks are also due to our numerous con- 

 tributors for their continued interest, and the labour expended 

 in producing papers of permanent value. 



Special efforts have been made to enhance the value of the 

 journal and sustain the interest of our readers by considerably 

 increasing the number of illustrations. Whilst feeling assured 

 of their appreciation, we must admit that the cost has been a tax 

 on our resources. We wish, however, to gratefully acknowledge 

 the generous aid in this direction both by contributors and 

 subscribers, without which the journal would have materially 

 suffered. 



Everything has been done to publish the reports of the 

 Yorkshire Naturalists' Union Field Meetings, etc., as promptly 

 as possible. 



Whilst it would be invidious to mention any particular paper 

 in the Volume, we should like to make special reference to the 

 contributions by Dr. Wm. G. Smith, on the Study of Plant 

 Associations, which have been so widely read and favourably 

 commented upon both at home and abroad. We have already 

 had evidence that much work is now being done on the lines 

 suggested by Dr. Smith in these pages. 



The Editors have felt keenly the pressure on their space, and 

 have been tempted on four occasions to double the monthly issue. 

 This has so far increased the expenses that while we have to 

 record a considerable increase of subscribers, a greater increase 

 still is necessary to enable us to successfully cope with the 

 matter in hand. If this be forthcoming it is our desire to increase 

 both the number of pages and illustrations, as under the present 

 circumstances we have lo delay the publication of papers of 

 considerable interest. 



Mr. Roebuck has kindly prepared the Indc:: to the \'olume. 



T. S. 



T. W. W\ 



