THE STUDY OF THE BRITISH FLORA 249 
probably require to be in the form of monographs by specialists, 
issued as each could be prepared, Le as part of a well-planned 
who It 
ro te wechewebt but “ah should also be the necessary 
synonymy, a summary of topogra ee ioe ope notes on 
man’s rs led upon Stith ton abundance, &e. any bio- 
logical or other point of interest in structure or leGas ns to 
habitat, environment, associated animals or plants, — &e. 
) 
this the need is all the greater, because much of such at 16ts is 
former periods, and, as far as possible, the changes that can be 
traced in the existing flora from its earliest records to the time of 
issue should be recorded. 
flora of this kind would not only afford the fullest possible 
information with regard to the plant world of the British Islands 
at the date of issue, but wo orm a standard with which it 
regarded o 
which to press on, but which cannot be attained until much h 
been done. But while the fulfilment must be left to others, we 
can do something to help it on by trying to remove difficulties 
from the way, and to bring together materials that may be u 
in its pom ie tion. 
I have sought to call attention to the difficulties that I have 
experienced, and t age in ae ch progress co made at 
once, and to provision whic be made for the idvensuientt 
of the study of the British pes with as ars delay as possible. 
There is, I feel assured, the means of making far more rapid and 
satisfactory progress towards the goal than has yet been accom- 
plished. any persons are interested in the subject, and would 
gladly give their aid if they knew in what way to employ it to the 
t purpose. As a nation we are apt to trust to individual rat wn 
than to combined efforts, and to waste much time and labour 
consequence, with discouragement of many who wo g 
share the labour in a scheme in which definite parts of the work 
could be undertaken by them 
I believe that a well-organized botanical survey of the British 
Islands would give results of great scientific value, and that there 
is need for it. I believe, also, that means exist to pe , its 
eee ough. i 
