rE RSET IE TE 
ON THE PROBABLE STATUS OF SOME IRISH PLANTS. 357 
I cannot admit that there ig any error in using ‘ wild” as 
synonymous with ‘native’’; ‘wild flowers,” ‘wild thyme,” 
‘‘wild boar,’’ ‘ wild cat’’ do not eply plants or animals intro- 
duced directly or indirectly by man. Although the word has to do 
duty for a host of mean nings, I submit that its primary significance 
is the opposite of “tame”; and that it is our only English aa 
valent for foreign adjectives like ‘* native,” “‘indige nous,’’ ‘‘autoc 
thonous,” &c. As regards Sedum dasyphyllum, I must again distinctly 
join is ne Messrs. Allin and Phillips probably had the fear of the 
former editors before their eyes ; but methinks it is clear that both 
of them believe this plant to be a probable native in the Carrick- 
shean station. It is not soll cal in England; but I do not 
kn 
covering a range of hills. Anyhow, to star it as ‘‘ certainly intro- 
duced ”’ is quite arbitrary. 
The editors very justly say that ‘‘each of us has his more or less of 
unconscious mental bias” ; but it is surely everyone's duty to discover 
and correct that bias. I have sometimes failed to do this; e. g. 
believe that Mr. Beeby was right in considering pes heterophylla 
am. as probably introduced at Witley, Surrey (it may have been 
brought there by Mr. Philip Barker Webb, a hott af European 
reputation, who was (up to his 8 in 1854) the = aR of my as 
parish, and was related to the owner of Witley Manor). Howeve 
having occasion recently to nie the stahaing of all the sits 
Kent, a county which outnumbers Ireland in its native or 
naturalized flora, I was obliged to balance probabilities weigeoih 
with what amount of success others must judge. Mr. H 
son, Mr. A. G. More, and the present editors, in their revolt aguinst 
the uncritical methods serge prevalent, appear to me 2 emer let 
their “‘ unconscious bias” to some extent carry them a The 
great aim of botany, as of all ieee must be to arrive at aluaiah 
truth, or = — an se to that as difficulties and uncertainties 
permit ; no less an offence against accuracy to rashly rule a 
plant “ pm of court” ‘hast to rashly admit it as a true native. 
My a nicpe the hope that I may be converted to their 
scepticis If they mean “ aeiversel doubt” (the defin ra of 
scepticism in Nattells Dictionary), I cannot endorse the wi ut 
it seems to me that the genuine cxsmrinés is the man apt bs looks at 
e case 
native of Western Europe, admitted by good judges to be Pobre 
