346 KNUBLEY : THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 



year, and that he should begin by moving that the report of the 

 Corresponding Societies' Committee to the General Committee 

 should be taken as read. This was carried. 



This report contained the following paper by Professor Bayley 

 Balfour, which is too valuable to omit or condense. 



Life-histories of Native Plants. 'Suggestions for those 

 studying the Life-histories of British Flozvering Plants : — 



' i. Seeds should be collected, and opportunity may be taken at 

 the time of collection to note how they are disseminated in nature — 

 whether the fruit opens or not, whether they have appendages for 

 promoting transport by animals or otherwise, whether they have 

 colour or other features of attraction, etc. 



' 2. The seeds being sown, their germination should be watched; 

 its rapidity and manner noted. The variations and differences 

 between albuminous and ex-albuminous seeds are worthy of special 

 note. The movement of the parts of the embryo in germination 

 until it acquires its fixed position are also deserving of study. 

 Further, the form of the parts of the embryo is various and 

 instructive. 



' 3. The development of the seedling into the adult can be 

 readily watched in annuals and biennials and smaller perennials. 

 The succession of leaves after the cotyledons should be noted, and 

 the forms which the leaves assume, and their positions and spread. 

 The relative succession of buds in or adjacent to the axils of the 

 later leaves and of the cotyledons should be observed, as also the 

 ultimate fate of the buds developed. This Avill give a clue to the 

 branching of the main axis of the plant upon which its whole form 

 and habit depend. 



'4. An important point to look at in the development is the 

 amount, character, and position of any clothing of hairs the seedling 

 may possess. 



' 5. The development of the underground part of the seedling 

 must not be neglected. The continuance of the primary root and 

 its branching or its replacement by adventitious roots are points for 

 particular attention, and also the formation upon it of any 

 excrescences or buds. A sufficient number of seedlings must be 

 grown to allow of proper study of these features. 



' 6. The form of branching of the stem and leaves may be 

 studied in the mature plant, which may be gathered wild. The 

 formation of false axes should be specially looked for, and the 

 complex relations often resulting from branching, may be worked out 

 upon the young top of a mature plant. It is not necessary to wait 

 for the maturing of the seedling, but reference back to the seedling 



Naturalist, 



