Botanical Report. 13 
account of its supposed medical properties, which were believed 
to be very great. The old herbalists had a belief that every 
plant was given to man by his Creator for some special 
purpose, and that that purpose—on what was called the doctrine 
of signatures—was indicated by the external appearance of 
the plant: and, accordingly, the shape of the corolla of this 
species was supposed to show that it was good for women at 
the time of childbirth. It was also believed to be good for 
snake bites, and for ‘‘ plague, small-pox, measles, and such 
like malign and contagious diseases.” 
Of the two remaining of the eleven excepted families the 
Crowberry is not now found in the South of England, and the 
Pipewort is found only in the Isle of Skye, and in one or two 
of the adjoining islands, and on the west coast of Ireland. It 
is a North American species, which has contrived to find its 
way, as only plants seem to be able to do, to our western 
shores, and it is found in no other part of Europe. 
With regard to the localities in which the rarer species 
have been found, the Sub-Committee have thought it better, for 
the present at all events, to withhold these altogether, because 
experience has shown that to disclose these localities too often 
leads to the extermination of many of these plants, and every 
plant thus exterminated is a loss, which cannot be repaired, to 
all those who study wild flowers in the only place in which 
they can be properly studied—their native woods and fields. 
The members of the Sub-Committee, however, will always be 
ready to give any assistance in their power to anyone who is 
really interested in wild flowers, or is desirous of studying 
botany, either by communicating to them the places where 
they can find any particular plants which they may require, or 
in any other way, and if, as it is hoped will be the case, a new 
edition should be published of Mr. Brewer’s ‘Flora of 
Surrey,” all the knowledge of our local wild flowers which the 
Sub-Committee have acquired will be freely placed at the 
disposal of the editor. 
It now only remains to appeal to the members of the Club 
generally to assist in completing the task which has been 
commenced. Those who are botanists can assist greatly if 
they will by communicating to any member of the Sub- 
Committee the localities where any of the rarer species have 
been found ; and to those who are not botanists, even a slight 
acquaintance with the subject will be sufficient to prove to 
them that botany is not a hard dull science, as many believe it 
to be, but that it is a science which is full of interest to all, 
and one which will amply repay any time and labour which 
may be devoted to it. 
