104 
REMARKS ON THE PREPARATION 
on little or no authority, and their acceptance might give 
permanence to many errors. 
With respect to the form in which each station is to he 
noted in the Flora, the author will exercise his discretion as to 
whether the exact habitat of a plant shall be indicated or not. 
When the plant is rare, or grows sparingly, it will he wise 
to give it protection by describing rather loosely the place where 
it is to be found. In such a case, it seems to me that the 
mention of the parish, or nearest village, would be quite 
sufficient for the purpose. This view, however, will not find 
universal acceptance, for it was lately suggested, in the pages of 
a popular periodical, that the chief object of a Local Flora 
.should be to point out the exact spots where the more uncommon 
plants of a district are to be found ! It was calmly remarked, 
that minute descriptions of the localities, specifying even the 
roads and paths to be taken, “would be a very great advantage.” 
Doubtless, but to whom ? Certainly the rapacious plant 
collector, eager to make up his bundle for the Exchange Club, 
will eye with dismal scorn the “ mere Catalogue with its vague 
remarks,” which does not spread at his feet the treasures 
enumerated therein, and humbly entreat him to root them up. 
But it is not for such as this that the local botanist toils, season 
after season, at his difficult and pains-requiring task. A keen 
delight possesses the true naturalist, when he discovers a rare 
plant, or one not suspected to grow within his reach. Will he 
not guard his fortunate discovery with jealous care, instead of 
straightway inviting all and sundry to its extirpation ; and look 
askance upon the “ battue-shooters,” who go forth with reams of 
paper, and coffins of japan wherein to inter every green thing, 
which may be a desideratum to their correspondents or them- 
selves ? The gathering and distribution of specimens by whole- 
sale can at best bear the very smallest relation to botanical 
science, and if any public benefit be reaped thereby, it cannot 
