PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 207 



them even yet hold their ground. The White Meadow Saxifrage, 

 for instance, appears on the grassy banks surrounding the ditch which 

 runs through part of Battersea Park, just as it did in days before the 

 park was thought of. A list of Forest Hill plants, only forty years 

 ago, contains many even rare species, but they have all doubtless long 

 since perished. But it must not be supposed that it is only by its 

 destructive agency that the advance of civilization affects the flora of 

 a county or country. Surrey is especially notorious as a county in 

 which, through drainage or other circumstances, fresh plants have 

 been introduced. A long list of plants which appeared on some waste 

 gi'oimds at Wandsworth, where the sweepings of Watney's Distillery 

 had been deposited, was published some years since ; and a similar 

 list of foreigners at Mitcham has appeared more recently. Most of 

 these plants merely appear for a year and fail to perpetuate 

 themselves ; others last for three or foiir years, and then disappear, 

 while a few find their new locality suited to their permanent existence, 

 and eventually claim admittance to our flora. Here we have a branch 

 of observation well fitted to occupy the attention of a local society, 

 and especially of a society in the neighbourhood of London. So, if 

 we have to lament the disappearance of our plants, we have received 

 others in exchange, equally worthy of notice ; and although we cannot 

 botanize in the " pasture and meadow grounds about Pancridge 

 Church," or expect much to reward our search in " the village neere 

 London called Kentish Towne," or the " bankes about Pickadilla," we 

 have full compensation in the facilities afforded us by our numerous 

 railways, which enable us to visit places where bricks and mortar 

 have not as yet extinguished plants, with as little trouble as our old 

 writers found in arriving at their chosen localities for •' herboriza- 

 tions." That we have full compensation as to nimiber of species may 

 be gathered from the ' Flora of Middlesex,' where it is stated that, 

 although no less than 58 species are probably extinct in that county, 

 91 are catalogued as more or less perfectly natui-alized, to say 

 nothing of 120 which have been observed in a subspontaneous 

 condition, although as yet they have not succeeded in establishing 

 themselves. 



Another important object of the club would be systematic work. 

 This is absolutely necessary for the results to be of any practical 

 value, and I should advise that the observations of the members 

 should be recorded, for comparison with the notes of other observers. 

 All malformations, and deviations from typical forms, should also be 

 carefully noted ; and the times of the flowering and pliation of plants 

 should be entered in a calendar, and may be useful for comparison with 

 past records. Lists of mosses and fungi (which do not appear in the 

 pubKshed ' Flora of Siu'rey ') might be compiled by the members. 

 Should the club publish transactions or reports of proceedings, it is 

 most important that they should be confined strictly to local matters. 

 In connection with local lists of plants, it woiild be most desirable to 

 ascertain the local names, as well as any superstitions or traditions 

 locally connected with them, more especially as these latter are fast 

 dying out. I sincerely hope that the club will flourish, and that it 



