PKKSIJ)KXT S ADDRESS. O 



Dililocjjstif; and Brooiucia and have compiled a list of the fungi 

 collected by Miss Pegler at Kentani. Miss Pegler has been one 

 of the keenest and most enthusiastic of the collectors who have 

 contributed valuable specimens to the cryptogamic lieii)aiium ; 

 others who' have made important contributions are Cruden, also 

 in the Eastern Province, Eyles and Swynnerton in Ehodesia, 

 Junod in Portuguese East Africa and Potts in the Free State. 



Van der Bijl has made a study of the Polyporaceae. Several 

 papers have been published dealing particularly with the economic 

 aspect of this group and their influence on the forest vegetation, 

 and a contribution to our knowledge of the distribution and 

 classification of the group will be laid before the present meeting. 



Dr. Ethel Doidge is devoting lier attention to certain groups 

 of the Ascomycetes and has published several papers dealing with 

 the South African species of Enjsiphaceae, Perisporiaceae and 

 Microthyriaceae. 



I should not omit to mention, with deep regret, that during 

 this period our ranks have been depleted by the death of that 

 strenuous and able botanist, Pearson, of that careful and 

 enthusiastic collector, H. G. Flanagan, and of W. Tyson, who has 

 made large and valuable collections of marine Algae. We have 

 alsO' lost during the past year Maurice Evans, whose name will 

 always be associated with that of Medley Wood in Natal. On 

 the other hand we wish to welcome to our midst such well-known 

 colleagues as Professors Moss, Thoday and Compton, and Mrs. 

 Thoday (M. G. Sykes). 



I must no'W proceed to' the subject of my address. To one 

 whose duties are of a wide and varying character the choice of a 

 subject must alwaj's be somewhat bewildering. For from the 

 nature of things where the subjects are numerous the knowledge 

 of each can but be superficial. My duties include the supervision 

 of the Botanical Svu-vey, advice on all matters of a botanical 

 nature, and the investigation, prevention, control, and 

 eradication of plant diseases within the Union. It is 

 obvious that much of this work carries me into the 

 veld, and I have therefore had exceptional opportu- 

 nities ot making observations on the veld throughout 

 South Africa during the past 15 years. Many oi these journeys 

 have been of a very hurried nature, but by means of the series of 

 photographs which I have accumulated, and some of which I 

 hope to put on the screen, I have obtained a general knowledge 

 of the veld conditions in some of the less known parts of the 

 country. I propose therefore to give briefly some account of: — 



The Veld : Its Eesources and Dangers. 



It is hardly necessary to attempt to explain to a South 

 African audience the meaning of the word " veld," but in order 

 to avoid misapprehension I may say that by the word " veld " I 

 mean merely the nat iral vegetation of the country. The word 

 therefore implies not only the plant growth of any locality, but 

 also has reference to' the habitat in which the plants grow. The 



