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 plants 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 preceded us. They loved and studied Ferns 
before us, they laboured to discriminate the species, and have 
indicated their localities and range; not that we should de¬ 
stroy, 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 oneself 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 vasculum must be filled, upon the plea 
that duplicates will be desired by friends, let the collector 
adopt Dr. Greville’s excellent 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. 
Osmaston, June 11, 1861. 
