XLVI EOYAL SOCIETY 0F~ CANADA. 



the county or provincial summaries based on them, when these summaries or generalizations are pub- 

 lished. In this way a great deal of valuable information could be gathered, practically without cost, 

 and positively to the advantage of scientific training in the schools of the whole of Canada. I hope 

 soon to be able to report the full realization of this plan in the schools of Nova Scotia so far as the 

 county academies are concerned. 



" There is often a very great difference in the times of flowering of plants even in the same small 

 circumscribed locality, according as the place is a specially sheltered one or otherwise. In a spot 

 abnormally situated with respect to the heating of the sun's rays and to protection from cold winds 

 or even cold air in some cases, a solitary plant may bloom in Januaiy, and a May butterfly burst 

 from its chrysalis in Februaiy. To count such sports as indicating the date of the first normal appear- 

 ance of flowers, etc., for a given locality, would be very misleading. I would suggest the uniform 

 adhesion to the practice of recording two dates when necessary. First, the date of the sport, if one 

 should be observed, inclosing it within bi'ackets; second, the date of the first flowering which is imme- 

 diatelj' followed by the rest of the same species in the particular locality. This latter date is the one 

 which is of the greatest importance, periiaps the only one of very much importance from a general 

 point of view. The first or abnormal appearance is often, however, of groat local intei-est, and by 

 inclosing it within brackets the two dates may be recorded on the same line; but for section, district 

 or province averages (botanical sections, districts and provinces), Iho normal first apj)earanee would 

 alone be utilized." 



Constitution, etc., of the Club. 



" The Botanical Club of Canada was organized by a committee of Section IV. of the Royal Society 

 of Canada at its meeting in Montreal, May 29th, 1891. 



" The object is to adojit means, by concerted local efforts and otherwise, to promote the explor- 

 ation of the flora of every portion of Bj'itish America, to publish complete lists of the same in local 

 papers as the work goes on, and to have those lists collected and carefully examined, in order to 

 arrive at a correct knowledge of the precise character of our flora and its geographical distribution, 



" The method is to stimulate, with the least possible paraphernalia of constitution or rules, 

 increased activity in our botanists in each locality, to create a corps of collecting botanists wherever 

 there may be few or none at present, to encourage the formation of field clubs, to publish lists of local 

 floras in the local press, etc., etc. ; for which purpose the secretaries for the provinces may appoint 

 secretaries for counties or districts, who will be expected in like manner to transmit the same impetus 

 to as many as possible within their own sphere of action. 



"Members and secretaries, while carrying out plans of opei'ation which they may find to bo 

 pi'omising of success in their particular districts, will report as frequently as possible to the officer 

 under whom they may be immediately acting. 



" Before the end of January, at the latest, reports of the work done within the various provinces 

 during the year ended December SIst previous, should be made by the pi'ovincial secretaries to the 

 general secretary, from which the annual report to the Royal Society shall be principally compiled. 

 By the 1st of January, therefore, the annual reports of county secretaries and members should be 

 sent in to the provincial secretaries. 



"The annual report to the Royal Society will contain, in addition to other information, a cor- 

 rected list of active members and officers. 



" To cover expenses of official printing and postage, a nominal fee of twenty-five cents per annum is 

 expected for membership (or one dollar for five j'ears, in advance, or five dollars for life membership). 

 Provincial secretaries in remitting the amount of fees from members to the general ti'easurer are 

 authorized to deduct the necessary expenses for provincial official work, transmitting vouchers for 

 the same with balance." 



