Report on the Herbarium. 133 



sented (T mean species, not specimens) is about 1375, which form 

 a large proportion of the British llora. In fact, the condition 

 of the Herbarium raises Dumfries to a position only inferior to 

 Edinburgh and Glasg'ow, though it is possible we have not quite 

 so good a collection as Perth. This matter ought to afford the 

 Society a g-reat deal of gratification. But it is a matter of great 

 regret both to the Misses Ilannay and myself that, with material 

 such as scarcely one county town in England possesses, a very 

 slight attempt has been made to use material which has been col- 

 lected. The botanists of the district are still at work, and continue 

 to assist us, but they do not consult the Herbarium habitually and 

 reg'ularly as 1 could have wished. This is, no doubt, largely due 

 to the fact of its existence being unknown to many, but perhaps 

 chiefly to its residing in a private house during winter. It is a 

 matter of regret to me that some means should not be found of 

 placing the Herbarium where it can be admired and advertise itself. 

 On its being thoroughly known will follow two results — first, its 

 u.se by a greater number, and, second, its receiving additions from 

 strangers visiting the district. 



The first addition I shall mention is one which may be the 

 to first raise it from a county town collection to one on a much 

 higher level. Mr Wylie, a native of Moffat, now residing at Dur- 

 ban, Xatal, wrote to Miss Hannay, and sent by the same mail a 

 parcel of thirty-six Natal ferns, asking for British species in return. 

 After my own little experience, I believe that such exchano-e 

 could be carried out on an enoi-mous scale, for there is no county 

 in (jreat Britain whose natives are so generally prevalent through- 

 out the world as Dumfriesshire. It rests, however, with the 

 Society to decide as to whether this idea should be carried out. 



Besides Mr AVylie's plants we have thirtj'-six rare British 

 specimens from London, but without any clear address, so that 

 they have not been acknowledged. Mr P. Gray has sent us a dozen 

 varieties; Mr J. M' Andrew a very interesting set of eighteen 

 species. Mr A. Somervile has sent us thirty interesting forms, and 

 our local friends, including Miss Ilannay, continue to supply us 

 with additions. 



There are also in the herbarium specimens of mosses, hepatics, 

 fungi, algae, &c., mostly from the county, which are a nucleus for 

 those who will undertake the cryptogamy of Dumfriesshire. 

 Immediately after the Flora had gone to press. I received the 



