8o PJIOCEKDINGS OK THK 



While the Society has, thauks to tlie kindness of two o£ its 

 Fellows, already listened to as many lectures on subjects espe- 

 cially associated with the name of 8ir Joseph Hooker, neither of 

 these has been a " Sir Joseph Hooker Memorial Lecture," owing 

 to the fact that the sclieme had not been originated at the time of 

 the first lecture, and had not become n)atured when the second was^ 

 delivered. It is, therefore, necessary to explain why, although 

 the fund has not yet reached the minimum considered in January,. 

 1913, to be necessary for the proper working of the scheme^ 

 our Society has decided that tlie first " Sir Joseph Hooker 

 Memorial Lecture " under that scheme be delivered this session. 



Three weeks hence we shall record the Centenary of the birth 

 of Sir Joseph Hooker. It has been thought desirable, notwith- 

 standing the incompleteness of the fund, to arrange that the first 

 lecture under the scheme be delivered in 1917. Circumstances 

 have rendered it impossible to arrange that the lecture be delivered 

 on the actual birthday of the distinguished Fellow whose memory 

 we are assembled to honour. But you may regard the date actually 

 chosen by our Council as one that is not inappropriate. Sir 

 Joseph Hooker m as elected a Fellow of the Society on 7th June,. 

 1842 — this day three-quarters of a century ago. 



The Society has been fortunate in being able to persuade the 

 very distinguished successor of the father of Sir Josepli Hooker 

 in the chair of Botany of the University in which Sir Joseph 

 himself studied, to undertake the duty, and I now ask Professor 

 Bower to deliver the " First Sir Joseph Hooker Memorial 

 Lecture." 



Professor F. O. Bower, F.E.S., then delivered his Lecture on 

 "The Natural Classification of Plants," illustrating his points by 

 reference to the Filicales. 



The President proposed a vote of thanks to the Lecturer, which 

 was accorded by acclamation, and was briefly acknowledged by 

 Prof. Bower. 



