90 THE LOCAL FIELD-CLUBS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



in 1852, at the Wolfsgraben See, on tlie Eitten plateau, above and 

 north of Bozen, south Tyrol. (See Hausmann's ' Elora von Tirol,' 

 p. 1504.) 



Fertilization of Ruscus aculeatus. — Professor Balfour and 

 Mr. Sadler have lately examined the flowers of Ruscus very carefully, 

 and have found male and female flovi^ers on the same plant, and male 

 flowers alone on other plants. Mr. Kobert Tucker has collected it in 

 flower on January 1 8th in the Isle of Wight. In Guernsey, Professor 

 Dyer informs us, it is one of the most al)undant plants on the broken 

 cliff's in themost exposed spots ; it is much stunted, but fruits abundantly. 



THE LOCAL FIELD-CLUBS OF GKEAT BRITAIN. 



II. TODMORDEN BOTANICAL SOCIETY. 



This Society was founded on the 26th May, 1852, and has for its 

 object " the promotion of tiie study of botany by the purchase of 

 botanical books and periodicals, and the investigation of plants, not 

 only as regards their classification and names, but also physiologically 

 and anatomically, and in their relation to agriculture and horticulture." 

 Its transactions are not published, but Mr. Thomas Stansfield, the 

 Hon. Secretary, has kindly forwarded us copies of the animal reports 

 for the last three years, from which we glean the following par- 

 ticulars : — 



The subscription is six shillings yearly, or sixpence monthly. In May, 

 1869, there were 185 regular, or paying members, and 22 associates, 

 or honorary and corresponding members, making a total of 207 ; and 

 each year shows an increase in numbers. The meetings were held 

 monthly until 1866, but have since taken place, on an average, fort- 

 nightly. At these the business of the Society is transacted, papers 

 are read, objects exhibited, and (during the summer months) excur- 

 sions take place. We are sorry to find that the attendance at these 

 last is not always satisfactory ; but the energetic manner in which the 

 desirability of their continuance was evinced at a recent meeting, 

 when this was called in question, leads us to hope that an improve- 



