10 A. G. Tansley. 
Southport). From Ainsdale the members walked down to the sea- 
shore and along the front of the dunes, where the association of 
Agropyron junceum on the low dunes was inspected. Very few 
genuine strand-plants occur, this association being represented 
almost solely by Salsola Kali. Passing across the frequently wind- 
eroded Ammophila-dunes behind, the party entered the region of 
the “ slacks” or dune valleys, the extensive development of which is 
a characteristic feature of these dunes. Salix repens is a striking 
feature of the slacks and accumulates numerous secondary dunes. 
The slacks were bright with the large flowers of Parnassia palustris, 
and Pyrola rotundifolia was abundant in the drier examples of the 
association of Salix repens. Many interesting plants were found in 
the slacks, but unfortunately the drought had caused the temporary 
disappearance of many of the interesting Bryophytes, and in the 
absence of Mr. Wheldon, who was to have joined the party, but 
was unfortunately prevented from doing so, little was seen of the 
particularly interesting Bryophyte vegetation of the dune slacks. 
Viola Curtisii, and several forms of (Enothera were found near 
Birkdale. In the evening the party proceeded by train to Preston 
and Lancaster, where they were met by Mr. W. M. Rankin, under 
whose guidance the next two days were spent. 
August 11th was spent in the limestone district of Silverdale, 
where much of the country is covered with ash-oak wood. In the 
basin of the old “ Burton Lake,” now long since vanished, the low- 
land moor developed on peat was visited. The peat has been 
extensively removed and little or no untouched moor is left, but 
various stages of the recolonisation of the peat-bog vegetation were 
observed. Anexcellent peat section, which Mr. Rankin had specially 
re-dug for the benefit of the party, was examined. The section 
showed a very interesting succession of vegetation. ‘Moor peat” 
composed of Sphagnum, Eriophorum and Calluna was underlaid by 
a layer of birch in situ, and this by peat composed of the remains of 
Cladium and Phragmites. Below the sedge-peat a layer of Hypnum, 
and then of amorphous peat, rested on shell marl, evidently deposited 
on the floor of the ancient lake. The whole sequence told the story 
of the obliteration of the lake by fen, the growth of a birchwood 
upon the fen, and the subsequent destruction of the wood by a 
Sphagnum-bog. The succession is strikingly similar to those 
described by Weber and other continental authorities on peat. 
The party afterwards visited Haweswater, a small existing lake with 
good reedswamp on the sheltered side, and bare banks where they 
are exposed to wind and wave action. Adjoining the lake is lime- 
stone bog with Primula farinosa, Selaginella seluginoides, etc. Some 
of the party examined a salt-marsh near Arnside, which Professor 
Oliver reported as exhibiting very interesting features. Lancaster 
Castle was visited in the evening by special permission of the 
Constable. 
On August 12th the party travelled to Grange and drove to 
Foulshaw Moss, a comparatively untouched lowland moor with an 
existing vegetation of Eriophorum vaginatum, mixed with Scirpus 
cespitosus, over most of its extent. There is historical evidence 
that this “ moss” was comparatively receutly much wetter than it 
uow is, and no doubt largely occupied by Sphagnum. The drying 
