250 NATURALIHT FIELD CLUB EXCURSIONS. 



The leaves of the stone book cannot be turned over by the geologist to 

 any good purpose in a few moments. The trunks of old trees, swamps, 

 and brakes are not likely to yield up their treasures to the botanist ou a 

 cursory glance. Time and diligent research and scrutiny are essential 

 to secure these prizes. But time generally fails where a large party has 

 to be guided from point to point. The most that can be expected on 

 such occasions is to obtain a more comprehensive view of the surface 

 of a district, and sometimes to listen to an exposition of its features from 

 those who are well acquainted with it. 



Secondly, a \'igorous effort should be made for the production of 

 original papers. Field Club meetings are favourable opportunities for 

 those members who have devoted themselves to any branch of science to 

 make known the results of their researches. There are few bodies of men 

 among whom some are not to be found who are quite competent to do 

 this, and one of the most valuable functions of the society is to elicit any 

 local information which they may be able to supply. 



Thirdly, the formation of local museums, or the addition to those 

 which already exist in the neighbourhood, may well occupy the attention 

 of our members. Of course some districts are much more favoured in 

 this respect than others. But the very existence of a field club imphes 

 that of objects worth observing and collecting, and nature may truly be 

 said to be inexhaustible in supplying them. 



Lastly, I would suggest the importance of each club taking up some 

 definite line as an object for its energies and researches. The example 

 in this respect of the most distinguished and successful of the clubs in 

 the West of England may be studied with advantage. While prosecuting 

 a variety of the ordinary subjects usually proposed by such bodies, the 

 Woolhope Club for several years made it their chief aim to record and 

 describe the trees of Herefordshire ; and in their transactions — an 

 extensive and vex-y interesting series of volumes — many photographs and 

 interesting papers have appeared descriptive of those which are 

 remarkable for their size, age, or history. Here was a subject 

 in which everyone could take part, and though at first sight it 

 might appear of but limited range and not very important, yet it was 

 soon evident that it led to observations of great and varied interest ; for 

 everyone who has entered on almost any investigation with ardour and 

 perseverance must have remarked that, as he goes on, many unexpected 

 paths branch out into alHed subjects, each of them supplying abundant 

 material for further research. In this case the mere attempt to record 

 the height, the girth, and other conditions of remarkable trees led to 

 obseiwations on their botanical varieties, to the comparative hardness and 

 durability of timber, to many historical facts connected with them, and, 

 in some instances, the progress of geological events has been indicated by 

 noting the change in the course of a river proved by the existence of 

 some old tree that once grew on its banks, but from which it has now 

 far receded. The Woolhope Club has since made the study of the 

 fungi, especially with reference to their usefulness as articles of food, 

 their chief pursuit ; and their annual Fungus Forays, and exhibitions and 

 dinners at which the products of the chase are served for experimentation 



