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SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXII. No. 822 



other parts), whether increasing or dimin- 

 ishing, altitudes, habitats, etc. From such 

 a careful topographical survey much 

 should be learned of the conditions that 

 favor or hinder the success of species, of 

 the evolution of new forms and their re- 

 lation to parent types in distribution, es- 

 pecially in the more isolated districts and 

 islands, and of other biological problems 

 of great interest. A most useful aid 

 towards the preparation of topographical 

 records would be afforded by the issue at 

 a small price of outline maps so as to allow 

 of a separate map being employed for re- 

 cording the distribution of each form. 



A careful study of the flora is also re- 

 quired from the standpoint of structure 

 and development, with comparison of the 

 results obtained here with those of work- 

 ers in other countries where the same or 

 closely allied species and varieties occur. 

 It is also needed in respect of the rela- 

 tions between the plants and animals of 

 our islands, both as observed here and in 

 comparison with the already extensive 

 records of a similar kind in other coun- 

 tries. On such topics as pollination, dis- 

 tribution of seeds, and injuries inflicted 

 by animals and galls produced by animals 

 or plants we have still to make use very 

 largely of the information gained abroad; 

 and the same holds good with regard to 

 the diseases of plants. 



While "English Botany" in its first edi- 

 tion was deservedly regarded as a work of 

 the first rank among floras, it has long 

 been defective as representing our present 

 knowledge of British plants, and it has 

 not been succeeded by any work of nearly 

 equal rank, while other countries now have 

 their great floras of a type in advance of 

 it. There is need for a great work worthy 

 of our country, amply illustrated so as to 

 show not only the habit of the species and 

 varieties, but also the distinctive char- 



acters and the more important biological 

 features of each. Such a flora would prob- 

 ably require to be in the form of mono- 

 graphs by specialists, issued as each could 

 be prepared, but as part of a well-planned 

 whole. It should give for each plant far 

 more than is contained in even the best of 

 our existing British floras. Means of iden- 

 tification must be provided in the descrip- 

 tion, with emphasized diagnostic char- 

 acters; but there should also be the 

 necessary synonymy, a summary of topo- 

 graphical distribution, notes on man's 

 influence upon distribution, abundance, 

 etc., on any biological or other point of 

 interest in structure or relations to habi- 

 tat, environment, associated animals or 

 plants, diseases, etc. Local names, uses, 

 and folklore should also be included; and 

 for this the need is all the greater, because 

 much of such old lore is rapidly being for- 

 gotten and tends to be lost. In a national 

 flora there should be included an account 

 of the successive floras of former periods, 

 and, as far as possible, the changes that 

 can be traced in the existing flora from its 

 earliest records to the time of issue should 

 be recorded. 



A flora of this kind would not only af- 

 ford the fullest possible information with 

 regard to the plant world of the British 

 Islands at the date of issue, but would 

 form a standard with which it could be 

 compared at later periods, so as to permit 

 of changes in it being recognized and 

 measured. In the meanwhile the produc- 

 tion of such a flora can be regarded only as 

 an aim towards which to press on, but 

 Avhich can not be attained until much has 

 been done. But while the fulfilment must 

 be left to others, we can do something to 

 help it on by trying to remove difficulties 

 from the way, and to bring together ma- 

 terials that may be used in its construc- 

 tion. 



