SECTIONAL SECRETARIES’ REPORTS. 
The following reports and records of the various subjects 
dealt with at the lectures and field meetings during the past 
Session have been kindly provided by the Honorary Secretaries 
of the Sections :— 
BOTANICAL SECTION. 
Two Meetings have been held during the past Winter Session. 
On Thursday, November 28th, 1912, Professor R. J. Harvey-Gibson, M.A., 
F.L.S., of the Liverpool University, delivered a lecture on “Desert 
Vegetation”; and on Thursday, February 27th, 1913, Miss K. E. Maris 
gave a lecture on “The Wilds of East Anglia.” Both lectures were 
illustrated by lantern slides, and were very well attended. 
“Desert Vegetation.” 
By Pror. R. J. Harvey-Gipson, M.A., F.L.S. 
This lecture was an able description of the conditions under 
which plants exist in desert regions, and the special modifications and 
adaptation of their structure and life-history. The capital illustrations and 
descriptions made this a most instructive and valuable lecture. 
“The Wilds of East Anglia.” 
By Miss K. E. Maris. 
East Anglia, and in particular the Fen district of East Anglia, is 
perhaps generally regarded as one of the least interesting parts of the 
British Isles. This prevalent idea is erroneous, even from the point of 
view of scenery, and all naturalists, and in particular botanists, agree in 
regarding it as one of the most fascinating spots in the Kingdom. The 
reason for this is, that there are still in the Fen district small tracts of 
land, in their wild primeval state, having escaped or defied the ruthless 
hand of man. 
The history of the Fen country from the time of the Romans to 
the present day consists of an endless series of attempts to reclaim this 
marshy tract and make it useful from an economic point of view. Now, 
only one or two rare patches of original Fen remain. One of these, 
“ Wicken Sedge Fen,” is Crown property, and therefore will always be 
preserved in its wild state. Within its narrow bounds of one square mile 
of land may be found more rare plants than in many another area a° 
hundred times larger. It is a great pity that there are not more such 
gems as these preserved in the British Isles. 
During the summer period numerous Wednesday and Saturday 
afternoon excursions have been held. Material assistance has also been 
given by members of the Section in the exhibition of fresh specimens at 
the Museum, which is so admirably supervised by the Curator. 
