July, 

 1916 



1 Field Naturaltsis' Club — Proceedings. 31 



from the transactions for the past year, the slightest lack of 

 that economic and careful administrative policy consistently 

 pursued by your hon. treasurer and committee during the 

 period would have resulted in a less favourable report. 



" Arising out of a suggestion made by Mr. A. D. Hardy, your 

 committee decided to hold the Club's 1915 annual exhibition 

 of wild-flowers in the Athenaeum Hall, Collins-street, on 

 Thursday, 28th September, make a charge of is. for admission, 

 and devote the profit that might result to the Sick and Wounded 

 Soldiers' Fund. An appeal was consequently made to 

 members, and to the Club's patrons, for donations of wild- 

 flowers towards this d'eserving object, and it is pleasing to 

 record that the tribute received, both in respect to quantity 

 and variety, was such as to seriously tax, not only the large 

 space available for display purposes, but the best efforts of a 

 large body of experienced workers to deal with it in a thorough 

 and advantageous manner. Native flowers were forwarded 

 from even the remotest parts of the State, from the Botanic, 

 Horticultural, and private gardens of Melbourne and suburbs, 

 and from Messrs. R. T. Baker, F.L.S., and J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., 

 Sydney. The floral display that resulted was unquestionably 

 the best yet seen in Victoria, if not in, Australasia, and was a 

 revelation to those whose knowledge of our flora was restricted 

 to a limited number of the commoner types. The exhibition 

 was opened in the afternoon by His Excellency Sir Arthur 

 Stanley, before a large concourse of people, and was continued 

 till 10 p.m., when the flowers were auctioned by Mr. A. E. 

 Haughton The outcome of the venture was eminently satis- 

 factory, far exceeding the most sanguine expectations of its 

 promoters, and benefiting the Sick and Wounded Soldiers' Fund 

 to the extent of £54 4s. iid. 



*' During the evening two lecturettes, illustrated by lantern 

 slides, were given in the Upper Hall by Mr. E. E. Pescott, 

 F.L.S., and Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S. The former selected 

 for his discourse the very appropriate subject, ' The Wild- 

 Flowers of Victoria,' and the latter * The Scenery of the 

 National Park, Wilson's Promontory.' Both lecturettes were 

 well attended, added considerably to the profit of the ex- 

 hibition, and served, in no small measure, to disseminate a 

 better knowledge of the beauty and variety of our flora, and of 

 the scenic beauties of our little-known National Park. 



" In passing, your committee take the opportunity here 

 afforded of again thanking the Victorian Liedertafel for the 

 use of their tables for display purposes, and the members of the 

 Club and their friends for their floral tributes and exhibits ; 

 of again expressing their hearty appreciation of the considera- 

 tion and generosity displayed by Messrs. R. T. Baker and 



