288 MR. W. A. NICHOLSON ON BOTANY OF SUTTON. 
Allowing for a few exceptions, it seems that at least in the 
higher phanerogamic plants, the floras of the Fenland and the 
Ant district are nearly identical. 
The principal bog-moss of the Fenland is “ a strong-growing 
form of Hypnum fluitans ,” Sphagnum being “ quite rare.” 
‘ Fenland,’ p. 555. 
In drawing my preliminary survey to a close, I can only 
hope that I have succeeded in conveying, if only imperfectly, 
a general idea of the botany of this region. It may not be 
superfluous to remark that the main object of a botanical 
survey of any district is not attained by compiling a list of 
plants found, only. Rare plants are, of course, of great 
interest, but the commonest ones are of greater importance, as 
from their abundance they may be presumed to be more in 
harmony with their environment, and thus more truly re- 
presentative of the district than the rare ones. 
I do not mean to infer that a list of plants is to be despised ; 
but something more than that is required in order to describe 
thoroughly the botanical aspect of an area. A list containing 
notes and observations on conditions, habitat, etc., is one 
step in the right direction. But the ideal to be aimed at is 
the preparation of a map exhibiting the vegetation of the 
area, as minutely as is possible, with a separate description 
of all the conditions under which plants grow, such as the 
plant-associations, chemical nature of soils and waters, 
meteorological phenomena, action of insects r and animals, 
etc. In short, the help of all branches of natural science is re- 
quired to thoroughly elucidate the plant-phenomena of even 
a comparatively small area. 
The importance of photography to botany has already 
been recognised by the British Association. 
Note. — (During the reading of this paper some lantern slides of photographs 
prepared by Mr. F. Balfour Browne, illustrating some of the typical plants of 
the district, were shown on the screen by Mr. IT. Brittain. These included 
Menyanthus, Alisma plantago, Water Ranunculus, ITottonia, Hippuris, and 
Eriophorum. ) 
