The ScUwrnc Society. 125 



The progress, however, of such a society must be neces- 

 sarily slow, so great, alas! is the indifference, even amongst 

 educated people, to anything demanding a little attention and 

 mental effort. University extension lecturers find subjects 

 which are not "amusing," fall very flat. 



Take it altogether, however, the vSell)orne vSociety lias 

 steadily increased in influential and numerical strength, and 

 branch after branch has been formed, and the area of voluntary 

 guardianship of the fauna and flora of fresh neighbourhoods 

 secured. There is no reason why branches should not (juickly 

 fill up, swarm, and make others in the same way in Ireland. 



Unfortunately, obscured by political storm-clouds, Ireland, 

 one of the most delightful countries in the world for the 

 tourist, artist, and sportsman, with all its capabilities for 

 rapid development, with its winter and summer health-resorts 

 derelict, or checked in healthy growth, has almost dropped 

 out of the list of the playgrounds of Europe. But the day 

 will come when it will be "fashionable," and then the Irish 

 Selbornians will rejoice that they have protected all that 

 material which once made man}' a favourite spot in England 

 so attractive, and which has been sacrificed to greed and 

 stupidity. 



The first step is to get a few kindred spirits to agree to form 

 a branch, and then to direct the secretary jZ^r(9. tcvi. to write to 

 the Secretary of the Selborne Society, 9 Adam-street, Adelphi^ 

 London, W.C, for the leaflet " How to form a Branch," and a 

 form of application for a warrant. When the branch is formed, 

 it is useful to get some local land-owner to follow the example 

 of Mr. Skrine, of the Bath Branch, Lord of the Manor of 

 Claverton, by giving a "Selborne at Home," when local 

 botanists, naturalists, and archaeologists, can improve the 

 occasion, and do a great deal towards directing usefully the 

 energies of the members. Ireland being particularly rich in 

 rare plants, a voluntary guardianship of their habitats will, of 

 course, suggest itself. 



The great thing, however, to impress on old and young is 

 that, true to Gilbert White, the Society is essentially an ob- 

 serving rather than a collecting one. 



The minimum subscription has remained the same as 

 when the writer of this article and his wife originated the 

 Society; for those who assisted in the organization hoped that 



