PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. ci. 



last year urged that Field Clubs should study the fungi of their 

 counties, which are usually much neglected. A fungus foray 

 would be a desirable addition to one of our summer meetings if 

 a leader could be found amongst our botanists, but as to a 

 subsequent fungus feast, though, perhaps, acceptable to our 

 waiting candidates, it would be well to be cautious ! I do not 

 think that the Dorset fungi have as yet received much attention. 

 They form an interesting group, though the life of individuals is 

 rather transient, and they are difficult to preserve. I would 

 mention two botanical expeditions ; one in Damaraland (German 

 S.W. Africa) to the Welwitschia Desert, where the annual rainfall 

 varies from nil to about ijin. Salt often covers the soil, and 

 only about a dozen species of flowering plants are found. The 

 youngest specimen of that extraordinary plant, the Welwitschia, 

 seen was computed to be at least 40 years old, seasons suitable 

 for germination of seeds occurring but rarely. 



The other expedition was made into the central part of the 

 province Fokien, in China, and, being new botanical ground, 

 produced over 40 new species of plants. 



It was pointed out by a German delegate at the British 

 Association that in his country many areas of primitive marsh 

 and water, heath and woodland, often containing rare and 

 characteristic species of animals and plants, have been preserved 

 in their original condition by the intervention of a State depart- 

 ment, an example which might be followed in England. Where, 

 in a small way, can be found anything like the Che&il Beach, 

 especially the parts covered with vegetation between the Ferry 

 Bridge and Portland, and also the Portland undercliff ? Neither 

 is of any use for agriculture, and both are likely for that reason 

 to remain undisturbed, as regards their plants and insects, except 

 for quarrying and military operations. It is fortunate, from a 

 scientific point of view, that some of the most unique spots, such 

 as these, are not of much value to ordinary mortals. In regard 

 to the origin of species from mutations in plants, our Hon. 

 Member, Sir W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, calls attention to the fact 

 that such mutations or spontaneous variations arise chiefly 



