2O2 Country Rambles. 



Harpurhey, twenty or thirty different societies being 

 represented. The proceedings were reported by the 

 writer of these pages in the Manchester Weekly Times 

 of the ensuing Saturday, the account, after some pre- 

 liminary observations, continuing as follows: "The 

 botanists began to assemble soon after two o'clock, and 

 at three, when the proceedings commenced, there were 

 present no fewer than two hundred and twelve, all, with 

 the exception of four or five, working men, and not more 

 than the odd dozen or so unconnected with one or other 

 of the societies. It is a striking and most pleasing fact, 

 for the consideration of intelligent people, that there 

 should be in and about Manchester a body of naturalists 

 able to send two hundred zealous and well-informed 

 representatives to an annual meeting where the object of 

 assembly was purely social. Whatever else the cotton 

 manufacturing districts may be in the eyes of people at 

 a distance, here, at least, is a characteristic that cannot 

 be disputed, and such as no other system or trade in 

 the country has tended either to develope or encourage. 

 The meeting took place on the large bowling-green 

 behind the inn. At the lower extremity was placed a 

 table, some twenty yards long, and covered throughout 

 its whole length with specimens of flowers, mostly curious 

 and uncommon, and about half of which were British, 

 with the addition of a few stove and greenhouse plants, 

 contributed by gentlemen's gardeners. After a little time 

 spent in conversation, the president, James Percival, was 

 called to the chair, from which he gave the names of 



