X. GENEKAL EEMAEKS. 



1. Phyto-geographical Definitions. 



Phyto-geography traces out the history and distri- 

 bution of plants in connexion with the geographical 

 position, the conditions of climate, and the phj'sical pecu- 

 liarities of the surface, in any portion of the earth imme- 

 diately under consideration. In books, this studj'' has 

 been distinguished into two leading divisions, according 

 to the difference of basis or starting point, from which 

 the subject is taken under view. 1. Geograj)hical Botany 

 is imderstood to begin with the plants themselves, 

 whether by individual species or in groups, and to trace 

 their distribution over the surface of the earth, or over 

 any portion of it. 2. Botanical geograj^hy regards the 

 earth's surface itself, its parts and divisions, with relation 

 to their floral productions. Shortly, the first may be 

 said to treat about the places of the plants ; the second, 

 conversely, to treat about the plants of the places ; — the 

 word ' places ' being here read in its least restricted 

 sense. 



Such a distinction is not without convenience and use- 

 fulness, as a logical idea ; although it arises from the 

 manner of viewing natural facts, and not from any real 

 distinctness in the relations between botany and geo- 

 graphy, or in those which connect plants and places. 



