623 POSTSCRIPT. 



may be held approximately correct in the main ; although 

 many alleged facts must still be deemed uncertain, and 

 many vacancies may still remain for future observers to 

 fill up and complete. 



It is much to be feared, however, that errors and mis- 

 reports about plants and their localities are accumulating 

 at the present time in much augmented proportion, if 

 measured by the reliable facts placed on record. Juve- 

 nile dabblers in botany, and very superficial amateurs, 

 are too much encouraged to seek printed publicity before 

 qualifying themselves by adequate knowledge. These 

 ill-informed writers not only encumber the literature of 

 botany with their own blunders and valueless repetitions ; 

 but they also disgust and deter more competent per- 

 sons, whose writings might do real service to science. 

 Competent botanists very properly dislike to lower them- 

 selves, by contributing to journals which are edited for 

 the ignorant, or filled by the effusions of incompetent 

 scribblers. Much as this state of matters is to be re- 

 gretted, it is not easy to see any practical remedy. The 

 competent are comparatively few ; the incompetent are 

 many ; and those who make a trade of science must 

 adapt their publications to the many, on pain of pecu- 

 niary loss. 



Still, each successive year doubtless adds something to 

 the store of serviceable scientific knowledge in every de- 

 partment, if it could be separated from the worthless 

 trash. By the . Cybele Britannica one department of 

 botany is brought up to the state of present knowledge. 

 It is the Author's wish to print supplementary sheets, 

 from time to time, in order to keep his work up with the 

 progressive advances of knowledge in regard to the topo- 

 graphical distribution of British plants. These will be 

 sent free by post to those Botanists who possess copies 



