X 
PREFACE. 
for the Fern varieties of the lowland ! In a few years, what 
must be the inevitable issue? Even private botanists are 
found to gather, with no sparing hand ; and if our island is 
still to be counted the habitat of a native Flora, we would 
earnestly commend the lovers of plants that are to come after 
us, to the consideration of existing collectors. Some eager 
eye, intent upon a full vasculum, may smile at the thought ; 
but let us be permitted to repeat it — Those who are to follow 
us, are as worthy of regard as we ourselves were by those 
who were before us. They who loved and studied Ferns 
before us, have laboured to discriminate the species, and 
they have indicated the localities and range of our native 
species ; not that we should destroy, but enjoy, use, and 
preserve them for the time to come. He is practically a 
transgressor of the great law of love, who cares not, so much 
as a Fern, for posterity. Besides this, it is good to deny one- 
self the childish pride of a handful, when one or two plants 
will suffice to acquaint us with the normal state, varieties, or 
marked abnormal developments of a species ; and if the vas- 
culum must be filled, upon the plea that duplicates will be 
desired by friends, let the collector adopt Dr. Greville’s excel- 
lent rule, to admit no duplicate which is not complete enough 
for his own herbarium ; and then many a specimen will be 
suffered to live, and abide for years to come, which, otherwise, 
had been rudely torn away, to swell the spoils of a day’s 
excursion, and to be as rudely cast off to perish, when the 
day’s pleasure was past. 
Gerard Smith. 
Copse Hill, Osmaston, June 11, 1861. 
