PREFACE. Devonshire is a perfect paradise, so far as its luxuriant growth of ferns and flowers is concerned, and I had no sooner set foot on the soil of Fair Devonia than I began to feel that I was in a region whose provincial and local lore was as rich and varied as its flora. Having imbibed, during my residence in China, a passionate love for all kinds of folk-lore, and being obliged to take frequent walks along the shady lanes and by the flower-bespangled hedgerows of South Devon, I at once availed myself of the favourable opportunities thus afiforded me of collecting whatever of interest came in my way. The fairyland of flower-lore so enchanted me that I soon began to write about it, and the resiQt was that Messrs. Swan Sonnenschein, and Co., of London, undertook to publish my work under the title of Flovoers and Ftower-Lare. The volume, which is nearly ready to be issued from the press, will be fully illustrated, and will be found to contain a great deal of information of a novel and interesting character relating to faiiy flower-lore and many kindred topics. It was while collect- ing this kind of information that I discovered that many of the local names for flowers and plants were not to be found in the excellent Glossary of English Plant Names in process of publication by the English Dialect Society. I made note of such names as they came* in my way, and have now the pleasure of submitting the result to
