October 6, 1910] 



NATURE 



455 



of immigration, evidence from fossil deposits of the period 

 during which they have existed in this country, their 

 constancy or liability to show change during this period, 

 their resemblance to or differences from the types in the 

 countries from which they are believed to have been 

 derived, or the likelihood of their having originated by 

 mutation or by slow change within the British Islands, 

 and their relation to man's influence on them (usually 

 harmful, but occasionally helpful) as affecting their dis- 

 tribution and permanence. 



The topographical distribution, though so much has 

 been done in this field during the past sixty or seventy 

 years, still requires careful investigation to determine, not 

 merely that species have been observed in certain districts, 

 but their relative frequency, their relations to man (natives 

 of one part of our country are often aliens in other parts), 

 whether increasing or diminishing, altitudes, habitats, &c. 

 From such a careful topographical survey much should be 

 learned of the conditions that favour or hinder the success 

 of species, of the evolution of new forms and their rela- 

 tion to parent types in distribution, especially in the more 

 isolated districts and islands, and of other biological 

 problems of great interest. A most useful aid towards the 

 preparation of topographical records would be afforded by 

 the issue at a small price of outline maps, so as to allow 

 of a separate map being employed for recording the dis- 

 tribution of each form. 



\ careful study of the flora is also required from the 

 point of view of structure and development, with compari- 

 son of the results obtained here with those of workers in 

 other countries where the same or closely allied species and 

 varieties occur. It is also needed in respect of the rela- 

 tions between the plants and animals of our islands, both 

 as observed here and in comparison with the already 

 extensive records of a similar kind in other countries. On 

 such topics as pollination, distribution of seeds, and 

 injuries inflicted by animals and galls produced by animals 

 or plants we have still to make use very largely of the 

 information gained abroad ; and the same holds good with 

 regard to the diseases of plants. 



While " English Botany " in its first edition was 

 deservedly regarded as a work of the first rank among 

 floras, it has long been defective as representing our pre- 

 sent knowledge of British plants, and it has not been 

 succeeded by any work of nearly equal rank, while other 

 countries now have their great floras of a type in advance 

 of it. There is need for a great work worthy of our 

 country, amply illustrated so as to show, not only the 

 habit of the species and varieties, but also the distinctive 

 characters and the more important biological features of 

 each. Such a flora would probably require to be in the 

 form of monographs by specialists, issued as each could 

 be prepared, but as part of a well-planned whole. It 

 should give for each plant far more than is contained in 

 even the best of our existing British floras. Means of 

 identification must be provided in the description, with 

 emphasised diagnostic characters ; but there should also 

 be the necessary synonymy, a summary of topographical 

 distribution, notes on man's influence upon distribution, 

 abundance, &c., on any biological or other point of interest 

 in structure or relations to habitat, environment, associated 

 animals or plants, diseases, &c. Local names, uses, and 

 folklore should also be included ; and for this the need is 

 all the greater, because much of such old lore is rapidly 

 being forgotten and tends to be lost. In a national flora 

 there should be included an account of the successive floras 

 of former periods, and, so far as possible, the changes that 

 can be traced in the existing flora from its earliest records 

 to the time of issue should be recorded. 



.■\ flora of this kind v.-ould not only afford the fullest 

 possible information with regard to the plant world of the 

 British Islands at the date of issue, but would form a 

 standard with which it could be compared at later periods, 

 so as to permit of changes in it being recognised and 

 measured. In the meanwhile, the production of such a 

 flora can be regarded only as an aim towards which to 

 press on, but which cannctt be attained until much has 

 been done. But Avhile the fulfilment must be left to others, 

 we can do something to help it on by trying to remove 

 difficulties from the way. and to bring together materials 

 that may be used in its construction. 



I have sought to direct attention to the difficulties that 

 NO. 2136, VOL. 84] 



I have experienced and to directions in which progress 

 could be made at once, and to provision whicli should be 

 made for the advancement of the study of the British flora 

 with as little delay as possible. There is, 1 feel assured, 

 the means of making far more rapid and satisfactory 

 progress towards the goal than has yet been accomplished. 

 .Many persons are interested in the subject, and would 

 gladly give their aid if they knew in what way to employ 

 it to the best purpose. As a nation we are apt to trust 

 to individual rather than to combined efforts, and to waste 

 much time and labour in consequence, with discourage- 

 ment of many who would gladly share the labour in a 

 scheme in which definite parts of the work could be under- 

 taken by them. 



I believe that a well-organised botanical survey of the 

 British Islands would give results of great scientific value, 

 and that there is need for it. I believe, also, that means 

 exist to permit of its being carried through. There is no 

 ground to expect that it will be undertaken on the same 

 terms as the Geological Survey. -^ biological survey must 

 be accomplished by voluntary effort, with possibly some 

 help towards meeting necessary expenses of equipment 

 from funds which are available for assistance in scientific 

 research. Is such a survey not an object fully in accord 

 with the objects for which the British Association exists? 

 In the belief that it is so, I ask you to consider whether 

 such a survey should not be undertaken ; and, if you 

 approve the proposal, 1 further ask that a committee be 

 appointed to report on what steps should be taken towards 

 organising such a survey, and preparing materials for a 

 national flora of the British Islands. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 



C.iMBRjDGE. — On Saturday last, October i. Dr. Mason, 

 the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, announced in his valedictory 

 address to the Senate two munificent benefactions which 

 have recently been offered to the University. The 

 Drapers' Company, which has already done so much for 

 the -Agricultural School, has offered a sum of 22,000/. 

 towards the cost of erecting a new physiological labora- 

 tory on the Downing site, and a further sum of lOOoZ. 

 for fittings. The proposed new laboratory for psycho- 

 physics, the cost of which has been collected by Dr. C. S. 

 Myers, will, it is hoped, be erected in the close neighbour- 

 hood of the proposed building for physiology. 



Since the foundation of the Schroder chair for German, 

 the Cambridge .Association has been turning its attention 

 to the further endowment of the teaching of English. 

 Through the instrumentality of Lord Esher, one of their 

 members. Sir Harold Harmsworth became interested in 

 the project, and he has very generously offered to endow 

 a chair of English language and literature by presenting 

 the University with 20,oooZ. The professor is to be called 

 the King Edward VII. professor, and will be elected by 

 the Crown. 



The next combined examination for sixty-seven entrance 

 scholarships and a large number of exhibitions at Pem- 

 broke, Gonville and Caius. King's, Jesus, Christ's, St. 

 John's, and Emmanuel Colleges will be held on Tuesday, 

 December 6, and following days. Mathematics, classics, 

 and natural sciences will be the subjects of examination 

 at all the above-mentioned colleges. Forms of applica- 

 tion for admission to the examination may be obtained at 

 the respective colleges. 



The Child Study Society has arranged a number of 

 lectures and discussions on the recreational activities of 

 children, to be delivered at the Royal Sanitary Institute 

 between now and Christmas. The programme includes 

 the following subjects : — October 13 : Some first results 

 of an inves'tigation into the play interests of English 

 elementary-school children, Miss .Alice Ravenhill ; 

 October 27 : games and toys for children under eight, 

 Miss Clara E. Grant ; November 3 : story of some 

 children's games, Mrs. Lawrence Gomme ; November 17: 

 the origin of certain games and toys. Dr. .A. C. Haddon, 

 I'.R.S. : November 24 : philosophy of boys' games, Mr. 

 Felix Clay; December i: the child's inheritance, Dr. 

 C. \V. Saleebv. 



