8 INTRODUCTORY EXPLANATIONS. 



ledge to other botanists through the press, even in no 

 higher form than the simple record of a locality, right 

 names and their right applications to species, then be- 

 come so far matters of pubHc importance. 



I have chosen to enter a little u^Don these points here, 

 because the j)rogress of geogra]5hical botany must depend 

 very materially upon the progress of descriptive botany. 

 Accui'acy in this latter department affects much the 

 very foundations of the other. Without the Manual of 

 British Botany, the Cybele Britannica would have been 

 considerably more imperfect than it is. And the more 

 exactly the Author of the Manual describes true species, 

 and adheres to established names, without the inter- 

 mingling therewith of untenable species, and needless 

 name-changing, the better will it be for the advancement 

 of my own department or " hobby " in botany ; which 

 latter I am naturally desirous to see advancing. 



Admitted, nevertheless, that Mr. C. C. Babington would 

 be fairly entitled to meet my objections against some of 

 his botanical doings, by suggesting, that the habitual use 

 of Hooker's Flora for ten or fifteen years, early training 

 under the late Professor Graham, and geographical con- 

 venience, are very likely to have given to me (troublesome 

 criticizer of others) a predisposition to " lump " species, 

 as strong in its way, as any bias that he may have 

 towards " splitting " species. And truly, he might cite 

 mstances, in which I have eventually followed his views, 

 after first turning and looking iia the contrary direction 

 as long I could do with eyes open. 



