Oct., 1896. ORGANISATION OF LOCAL SCIENCE. 267 



belong to the City of London, North London, City of London College, 

 EaHng, North Kent, West Kent, Bromley, Sidcup, Maidstone, New 

 Brompton, Horsham, Brighton, Eastbourne, Hastings, Folkestone, 

 Dover, Tunbridge Wells, Southborough, Guildford, Sutton, and 

 Haslemere Natural History Societies. 



We must have at least an army of 50,000 members, and from 

 these grand work might be expected. Such a body of men, occupying 

 such an important educational position, should be able to point to 

 better work than any already done. Their immense power might be 

 used to make the study of plants, animals, physical forces still more 

 efficient factors in man's culture and mental development. 



Failure to accomplish more than has already been done must be 

 put down to many causes. The present results are, perhaps, not 

 surprising without more direct attempts to guide and develop their 

 latent powers and capabilities. The chief cause of failure is ivant of 

 organisation. 



When things are left to chance we must not look for the best 

 results. Should we expect much if our army, navy, and volunteers 

 were left to themselves, to the individual inclinations and humours of 

 the members ? 



To effect a genuine advance, improved organisation is urgently 

 needed, and will be eagerly welcomed by those who are anxious to see 

 the "best possible " achieved by these scientific centres. 



A step in the right direction has been taken by the Unions of 

 Scientific Societies which already exist in England and Scotland. 



Many of you are intimately aware of their advantages, their 

 stability, and pleasant associations. 



The Yorkshire and East of Scotland are striking instances of good 

 work resulting from co-operation and energy skilfully used. 



The present British Association regulations relating to affiliated 

 societies do not sufficiently foster such unions, and they apply in some 

 cases to conditions and aims which have passed away, or have already 

 been realised. For instance, the publication of Transactions as a con- 

 dition of affiliation leads now to the unnecessary accumulation of 

 pamphlets, often of small value, when it is already difficult, among 

 such a mass of printing, to find what has previously been written on 

 any particular subject. 



The time seems opportune for asking, without being charged with 

 undue haste, whether some alterations might not bring benefits and 

 improvements all round. Is it not time that some step forward should 

 be taken, after a careful survey of past failures and successes ? Time 

 that some plan should be proposed that would tend to organise these 

 scattered units of energy — the local societies — under the guiding care 

 of the British Association ? 



Fully believing that further improvement through organisation is 

 possible, I look to the extension of unions of societies in districts under 

 the auspices of the British Association as the most feasible method. 



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