Sniilh : Bota}tic(il Survey for [jical Xntitralists' St>rictics. 9 



(4) The Hill Pasture or Natural Pasture o'i. the Limestone 

 dales, in which g-rasses predominate hut the heath 

 plants are replaced by other species. 

 The above may be res^arded as types or primary associations of 

 plants ; their occurrence depends on well-defined differences 

 of soil, soil-moisture, climate, and, to a certain extent, on the 

 influence of man. If a botanist were to attempt to record them 

 in the way we sug-g'est, he would find that each included several 

 secondary associations dependini^ ow more local conditions. 

 We have not attempted to indicate these latter associations in 

 the maps of the \'orkshire survey, but their composition is dealt 

 with in the text ; in a future paper in this journal we propose to 

 consider them in more detail. 



The hydrophytic veg-etation oi marshes and swamps also 

 presents well-marked plant-associations. Thus the marshy 

 vegetation of the moorland gathering- grounds of streams con- 

 trasts strongly with the marsh vegetation of the slow waters 

 of the flat lowland. 



Method of reeording plant-associations. It is advisable that 

 the records should be taken in a way which will admit of easy 

 comparison. At this early stage, however, it is only possible to 

 sketch briefly a plan which will no doubt require modification as 

 time goes ow and experience is gained. It will be ono. ot the 

 objects of the committee on Botanical Survey to frame a work- 

 able method of making records. The first step in the case of 

 starting a record is to select a place where the vegetation is 

 fairly uniform, for example, a wood, a portion of a moor, or 

 some swamp. The size of the area is of minor importance, 

 although there are many advantages in having it as large as 

 possible — say, at least an acre. The identification of the place 

 should be ensured bv colouring it on a ' six-inch " Ordnance 

 Survey map, or by tracing its boundaries from the ' 25-inch ' map 

 into the record book. For each plant-association dealt with 

 there should be a record book, suitable for carrying and using 

 out-of-doors ; for the present we suggest a quarto book of 100 

 pages ruled in squares. The information given may be arrang-ed 

 under the followingheads: — (i)Topography, (2) Flora, (3) Biology. 



(i) The Topography includes all details about the station 

 itself. The following are factors likely to influence the vegeta- 

 tion, and therefore to be recorded : — {a) Altitude above the 

 sea, approximate slope, and exposure to north, south, etc. {b) 

 Geology and soil : the recognised name of the geological for- 

 mation, the character of the rock, the dip of the strata, and the 



• 903 January .?. 



