264 PROCEEDINGS COTTESWOLD ULUB 1903 
it may be stated here at the outset that they are practically 
only plants of this nature that the Devon Association has 
been able to reach. In Devon, plants thus reached consist 
almost entirely of ferns and partly of primroses. In other 
words, so far the Association has only laid its hands on 
professional plant stealers, and to these men practically 
only ferns and primroses appeal. There is a very great 
difference, however, between the quantity of these kinds 
of plants in Devon and Gloucestershire. In Devon the 
lanes and banks are literally clothed with them, whereas 
in Gloucestershire primroses and ferns are comparatively 
scarce. In parts, ¢.g.,in most of the vale, they are almost 
entirely absent, on the Cotteswolds they are almost confined 
in limited numbers (and, as regards ferns, species) to the 
woods, and it is only north-west of the Severn that they 
become fairly abundant; but even there the lanes and 
banks are very different from those in Devon. As a result, 
professional plant-sellers find far greater temptations in 
Devon than in Gloucestershire ; and their presence in 
Devon certainly justifies the formation of an Association, 
since the many offenders enable a small proportion of 
them to be reached who can be proved, as already stated, 
to have damaged the land. However, this state of things 
does not exist in Gloucestershire, and an Association, as 
the law now stands, would have great difficulty in obtain- 
ing any success justifying its formation, and its feebleness 
would probably prejudice future efforts. Besides as the 
law now stands the prosecutions do not really touch the 
fundamental question, or go to the root of the matter at 
stake. Possibly in Gloucestershire, besides primroses and 
ferns, daffodils, fritillaries, and lilies-of-the-valley might be 
in danger; but it is submitted that the formation of a list 
must be left to further consideration, under advice to be 
given by the county’s expert botanists. 
B. With regard to the plants liable to be rooted up by 
