BOTANICAL SECTION 19 
good start was made in the Spring Term, no less than seventy- 
three species being recorded before April 8. This number is 
about double that usually found at this date, and is due to the 
early spring, which did not receive any check during March. 
As a rule, after an early spring, there is a period of three to 
four weeks, in March or April, during which vegetation seems 
to make no advance. In 1903, this period did not come till 
May, when very cold and wet weather set in. So severe was 
this, that in July the flowers were fully three weeks later in 
making their appearance than in 1902—itself a late year. This 
fact, together with the general exodus of members which 
occurred towards the end of the Summer Term, prevented 
anything like a record being made. Five members, however, 
obtained over 200 specimens, which compares favourably with 
last year. Two prizes were awarded—the first to J. A. Ritter, 
and the second to U. L. Bourke. The following collected over 
fifty specimens— 
JoA. Rivger sss « S82 --T. oO.) MO ‘Carrerson- 
U: ExcBouRRe* so. a 272 SMIEH 4.005 seen ee 
Ds J Cocuman 4. © 2 3.257 Hs MaARspen . >.) on as 
H. Loocks. 40% 5. Sat D. C. M. Laurie) so e9e ese 
A Cos WAV EOR Gg Wat hans vee Ue R. R. MrrcHerr ya -. 60 
C.A.Murrueap .. . 149 A.H.M.Barrineron . 53 
Our list now contains 638 species, of which 476 were found 
this year. Where the name of a flower is recorded without 
any date it means that it has been found in some previous year 
but not during this one. Eight new species are recorded for the 
first time; their names being distinguished in the list by italics, 
The two most interesting are Samolus valeriandi (Brookweed), 
and Salvia Verbenaca (Wild Sage), both found at Longhope, on 
July 21. This district is new to the section, and its exploration 
formed the seventh of the eight botanical excursions made in 
the Summer Term. There were no competitors for the prize 
offered for a collection of plants dried in sand, but a few 
members tried some preliminary experiments, The prize will 
be again offered in 1904, when it is hoped that some members 
will take up the matter more thoroughly. 
In order to arouse some interest in other parts of botany, 
. B 2 
