234 Fowler: Presidential Address to Lincs. Naturalists’ Union. 
Very few of these occur in more than half of the 112 counties 
stations will be found, perhaps, for species already recorded, 
ut the day for recording species new to the county has well 
nigh gone by. 
It must not, however, be concluded that there is nothing left 
for botanists to do. e non-flowering plants are full of 
interest, and though more difficult of determination than flower- 
ing plants, may be made out, by the exercise of patience, 
perseverance, and care. The Mosses and Hepatics, the Lichens, 
the Fungi, and the Algz of Lincolnshire have been only partially 
recorded, and there is plenty of scope for useful work, if only 
those willing to give attention to them can be found. The 
flowering plants (on account of the size and beauty of many of 
them) are no doubt attractive objects for study, but the lowlier 
ones have their advantages. Many of them can be found at 
seasons of the year when flowering plants are few and far 
between, and have a beauty of their own when examined by the 
help of the microscope. They are, moreover, full of instruction 
for those botanists who are interested in the physiology and . 
development of plant life, since the larger and most highly 
organised forms can only rightly be understood, when a know- 
ledge has been gained of the smaller and lower forms. We | 
have a few members in our union who have shown an interest in 
cryptogams, and I feel sure there would be more, if some were’ 
not frightened by imaginary difficulties. Minute organisms— 
can, if equally patient and persevering. I hope we shall soon 
have more students of what are sometimes called ‘ the neglected 
orders.’ I can assure any such that they will be rewarded by 
the sight of many beautiful and curious objects, and by a con- 
sequently fuller knowledge of plant life. They will also have 
the satisfaction of feeling that, instead of recording what has 
been already recorded again and again, they are adding fresh 
records, and so increasing the knowledge of the botany of the 
county. To such intending students I would recommend ‘The 
Collector’s Handy-book of Algw, Desmids, Fungi, Lichens, — oe 
Mosses, etc.,’ by Nave, translated and edited by the Rev. W. W- 
Spicer, M. tae which gives instructions as to where these lower 
Se anaes wee 
! "Naturalist, 
