I? 



REPORT OF THE BOTANICAL AND MICROSCOPICAL 

 SECTION, 1887—8. 



Chairman— J. T. Harris, Esq. 



Although this Section, at its re-construction in October, 1887, was 

 intended to take the place of the old Botanical and Microscopical 

 Sections, its work since then has been confined almost entirely to the 

 Botanical side. During the Winter months the energy of the Section 

 was directed to the work of preparing a new Flora of the District, having 

 as its basis the Flora compiled in 1863 by the late Mr. Edwin Brown. 

 Considerable progress has been made with it, the orders up to the end 

 of the Leguminosa having been finished. It is intended to continue the 

 work upon it during the ensuing winter. Several interesting objects, 

 both Microscopic and Botanical, were exhibited at the evening meetings 

 by the Members of the Section. 



The Section, considering that there was a lamentable want of system 

 in the observations published yearly in the Calendar of Nature, drew up 

 a list of forty plants for the observation of the dates of flowering and 

 leafing, based in a great measure on the list of the Meterological Society. 

 This list was circulated amongst the Members of the Section, and its 

 plants, it is believed, have, during the past nine months, been system- 

 atically observed. 



Six Field F^xcursions were arranged by the section, but, owing to un- 

 favourable weather and to other causes, only two of these were carrried 

 out, these being 



May 26 — Forest Banks and Hanbury ... Leader — Mr. J. T. Harris. 

 Aug. iS — Cannock Chase - -j, ,, J. E. Nowers. 



Amongst the Plants taken at the former, were: 



Paris quadrifolia, Myosotis sylvatica, Aquilegia vulgaris, Polypo- 

 dium Dryopteris, and Eqmsetum limosum ; whilst the latter Excursion 

 resulted in the taking of Q-alium viliginosuin and Anagallis tenella. 



Considerable work has been done by the individual members of the 

 Section within the Botanical district during the past Summer, some of 

 the most important finds being as follow: 



By the Chairman (Mr. J. T. Harris)— Mjrrrhis odorata, Prvmus Padus and 

 Arcnaria vema, at Cromford. 



