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a probable increase in the Club's rental, it may be necessary to 

 diminish the expenditure upon the Journal, unless the income 

 of the Club can be correspondingly increased. The Committee 

 therefore trust that all the members will take an active interest 

 in a matter so vital to the welfare of the Club, and endeavour to 

 increase the membership by bringing the Club under the notice 

 of their acquaintances. The advantages offered to the amateur 

 microscopist in return for a very moderate subscription are so 

 obvious that a large influx of new members would undoubtedly 

 result from such advertisement, and this would render it possible 

 to meet the increased expenditure without diminishing the 

 present high standard of the Journal. 



The Honorary Curator reports an increased demand for the 

 loan of slides from the Club's cabinets. During the past year 

 over 2,000 slides have been borrowed, and the number would 

 doubtless have been still larger but for the cramped conditions 

 under which the Curator is unfortunately compelled to work. 

 One hundred and twenty-four slides have been presented, and 

 seventy-six purchased out of proceeds realised by the sales of 

 Catalogues. With the object of further extending the usefulness 

 of the Cabinets, five series of slides on Botanical Histology have 

 been prepared. A key to each series, explaining the chief points 

 of interest, and illustrated by diagrams, has been written by 

 Mr. R. Paulson. The best thanks of the Club are due to this 

 gentleman for the careful and instructive way in which these 

 notes have been compiled. 



The number of members who have attended the Excursions 

 during the past year is higher than in any previous year since 

 1893. In 1893 the total number of attendances was 124 ; in the 

 past year the total number was 117, or an average number of 

 13 for each of the nine excursions. The excursion to the Royal 

 Botanical Gardens was, as usual, the best supported ; in spite of 

 the weather no less than 32 members attended. A new locality, 

 viz. "Wallington, Surrey, was visited in the excursion of 

 July 11th, which was attended by 9 members, who spent an 

 enjoyable afternoon collecting in the private grounds of Mr. 

 Christy and Mr. Maitland. The thanks of the Club are due to 

 these gentlemen for the privilege thus afforded. The excursions 

 were well patronised by the new members, to whom the 

 experience thus obtainable should be specially valuable. 



