It is most desirable that the students of our native flora 

 should not confine their attention to books published in this 

 country. Owing to such an unavoidable restriction we fell 

 far behind our continental brethren during the earlier part 

 of the present century. A few modern works may be 

 named which will assist them in their studies. Koch's 

 Synopsis Florae Germanicce, ed. 2, and Grenier and Godron's 

 Flore de France are strongly recommended, — also, although 

 in a rather less degree, Lloyd's Flore de V Quest de la France, 

 Brebisson's Flore de la Normandie, and Cosson and Ger- 

 main's Flore des environs de Paris, ed. 2. Boreau's Flore 

 du Centre de la France, ed. 3, and the scattered papers of 

 M. Alexis Jordan of Lyons are valuable for the study of 

 varieties ; for many of their species can claim no higher 

 rank. But, above all, the works of Fries deserve careful 

 study — especially his Novitice Florae SueciecB, with its three 

 Mantissas, and Summa Vegetdbilium Scandinavice. It is 

 necesBsary to warn students against the very common error 

 of supposing that they have found one of the plants de- 

 scribed in a foreign Elora when in reality they have only 

 gathered a variety of some well-known British plant. The 

 risk of falling into such errors renders it necessary to con- 

 sult such works as those of Messrs. Boreau and Jordan with 

 great caution, lest we should be misled by descriptions, most 

 accurate, indeed, but often rather those of individuals than 

 species. Amongst plants so closely allied as are many 

 of those called species in some continental works, it is 

 scarcely possible to arrive at a certain conclusion without 

 the inspection of authentic specimens. 



The Author takes this opportunity of returning most 

 sincere thanks to his botanical friends and correspondents 

 (far too numerous to record by name) for the great assist- 

 ance they have rendered to him by the communication of 

 valuable suggestions, observations, and specimens. 



