1885.] FRESH AIR AND RECREATION SOCIETIES. 257 



situations, notably a few localities in Ayrshire and Forfarshire. 

 In Scotland this plant is, however, more plentiful than is generally 

 supposed, there being several stations, as well as those recorded in 

 our floras, from some of which I have received authentic specimens. 

 On one occasion an unknown friend kindly sent me a square of peat 

 containing the roots of this plant; but although I imitated as nearly 

 as possible its native haunts and soil, no plants ever appeared. I 

 am not aware that any one has successfully cultivated this rare and 

 curious orchidaceous plant. 



{To he continued.) 



FRESH AIR AND RECREATION SOCIETIES. 



AT the annual meeting, presided over by Lord Mount Temple, 

 the venerable Lord Shaftesbury moved the first resolution 

 approving of the aim of the Commons Preservation Society. In 

 the course of his remarks he stated that young men to whom he 

 had given allotments had underlet their plots, and had gone to 

 towns. Mr. Story-]\Iaskelyne stated that from his own experience as 

 a landowner in Wiltshire, it might be well to let some land in small 

 holdings to labourers, and to leave the commons to be turned to their 

 more ancient uses for pasturage. Having congratulated the Society 

 on the result of their intervention with regard to Ashdown Forest, 

 where about 6000 acres of land had been saved for the enjoyment of 

 the public, he referred to efforts which had been made by a Bill in 

 Parliament to secure a public right to the free use of the Thames for 

 the purposes of recreation. 



In speaking to the second resolution. Lord Brabazon dwelt upon 

 the fact that the necessity for the preservation of open spaces was 

 increasing as population became more dense. Inasmuch as enclosures 

 of commons were by the earlier Acts sanctioned only for public 

 purposes, such as the growth of wood for the ISTavy and the increase 

 of the food of the people, he thought it eminently right that common 

 lands should be appropriated to supply that which was the great 

 need of the day in our large centres of population. 



Mr. James Bryce, M.P., stated that a corporate body was about to 

 be organized under the Limited Liability Acts, for the purpose of 

 acquiring and holding land and other property as an aid to the 

 preservation of commons. It was stated at the annual meeting of 

 the Scottish Ptight of Way and Eecreation Society, that it has 

 already taken steps for the repair and proper keeping of the old 

 paths through Hawthornden and Glen Tilt, both of which were won 

 back to the public use by the exertions of the old Ptight of Way 

 Association. 



