nolbope Naturalists JFiel5 ffilitb. 



First Field Meeting, Tuesday, May 18th, 1852. 



HEREFORDSHIRE WILD FLOWERS. 



We are requested to draw particular attention to the prizes offered for Wild 

 Flowers at each of the forthcoming exhibitions of the Horticultural Society. At 

 each show there wiU be prizes for " the best bouquet or device of wild flowers," 

 and also for "the largest collection of different kinds;" and all are to have a 

 paper attached to them to state in what wood, field, or parish they were gathered. 

 It will be evident from these conditions that the Committee of the Society are not 

 only desirous of having them at the Show, but also of ascertaining what wild 

 flowers grow here, and where they grow, Nvith a view to advancing the know- 

 ledge of the natural productions of the county. This is a step in the right direction, 

 and we have much pleasure in calling attention to it. Let every parish send its 

 collections, and the school children will like nothing better than gathering them, 

 if the clergyman or schoolmaster would kindly allow them a half-holiday the day 

 before, to do so. In this way much useful information will be procured, in a 

 pleasing way, for an accurate list will be taken of all that are brought, and doubt- 

 less, moreover, should they be very numerous, extra prizes will be given to such 

 as deserve them. 



With a view of directing still closer attention to them, two special prizes 

 have been offered, open to everyone, "for the best Herbarium of Herefordshire 

 wild flowers, collected and dried by the exhibitor durnig the present year, the 

 first prize consistmg of a gold pencil case, the second prize of a silver pencil case. 

 The plants are to be fastened on paper, with the Latin and English names, the 

 date and locality where gathered, written on it. The collections are to be sent 

 to the Honorary Secretary, Mr. PhUlips, High Town, on or before Monday, 

 September 6th. with a motto attached and a sealed envelope containing the name 

 of the competitor. The plants wll be restored to their owners." We trust these 

 prizes will be well competed for, and again we call upon all lovers of our wild 

 flowers, and all zealous for the scientific honour of our county, to bestir them- 

 selves, that the fields and woods, and hedgerows of our villages may be fairly 

 represented at our Horticultural fetes. 



At the fourth soiree of the Hereford Literary and Philosophical Society on 

 Friday, April 2nd, Mr. W. H. Purchas, of Ross, read an interesting paper on the 

 Ferns of Herefordshire, illustrated by specimens and diagrams. Thanks were 

 voted to Mr. Purchas, and Dr. Bull expressed a hope that the address would be 

 followed up by a closer study of the Wild Flowers of Herefordshire generally, 

 with a view to which he suggested that a few of the summer excursions of the 



