THE DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS. 



interest and importance in affording knowledge and 

 pleasure, equally with the rarest plants which botanical 

 collectors take so much trouble to acquire.* The essen- 

 tial purport of the present work is to trace a general 

 sketch or outline of the subject, which may serve as a 

 basis and guide to more minute local observations. 

 These, brought together by a comprehensive mind, will 

 at a future day give us an insight into the true philosophy 

 or exact laws of vegetable distribution in Britain ; an end 

 which our present materials are quite inadequate to fulfil. 

 In fact, after reading the works of writers on English 

 botany, and conversing or corresponding with many 

 others greatly superior to me in botanical skill, I do not 

 hesitate to say (it is hoped without giving offence), that 

 very few indeed appear to have aught beyond the most 

 vague and unconnected notions on the subject. No doubt, 

 one great cause of this must rest in the want of works to 

 be used as training guides, or points of comparison and 

 reference, by young botanists who may not have the 

 leisure or inclination to extend their rambles over the 

 island, and make the necessary observations in person. 



One of the earliest attempts is an inaugural dissertation 

 by Dr. Boue, well known as a geologist. But an essay 

 by a foreigner, written during a temporary residence in 

 Britain for other purposes, and at a period when local 

 Floras and Catalogues were extremely few, cannot be 

 supposed very exact ; indeed, it is quite vague in plan, 

 and apparently far from accurate in details. A much 

 superior one has more recently appeared from the pen of 

 Mr. Winch.t But this is rather composed of remarks on 



* A moderate degree of acquaintance with technical botany suffices 

 for the geographic botanist ; but it is necessary that he should know 

 plants : and the knowledge of species being thus indispensable to him, 

 it is ridiculous in him to decry such, or to talk of puerility and waste 

 of time in acquiring it. 



f Essay on the Geographical Distribution of Plant in the Coun- 

 ties of Northumberland, Durham, and Cumberland. 



