74 



where plants generally may flourish, and by the special pro- 

 tection of small enclosures in which the rarer or local species may 

 grow undisturbed. He thought that many landowners would gladly 

 help if the movement in its favour became general, and he had no 

 doubt the National Trust would be willing to consider the suggestion 

 as regards many of their properties. Then there were the causes 

 that came under the heading of "Industrial," such as smoke, 

 injurious gases, etc., and which were being dealt with by the 

 Smoke Abatement Societies, whose hands it might be possible to 

 strengthen. He also referred to the general levelling up of open 

 spaces taken over by municipal authorities, and of the formation of 

 golf courses, also to the digging up of the roots of wild flowers by 

 hawkers, which would not go on if there were not a demand by the 

 public for them, and for which legislation is the only remedy. 

 Although bye- laws have been passed, covering many counties, they 

 only apply to public places, and the councils have no jurisdiction 

 over private properties. And then there is the indiscriminate 

 collecting by those who believe themselves to be the lovers of wild 

 flowers. Some societies were already dealing with these matters in 

 a militant way, but it was felt that they would not be able to do a 

 great deal in the desired direction unless they could get the cordial 

 co-operation of naturalists all over the country, of the press, of the 

 schoolmasters, of the clergy, and of the landowners; and he 

 appealed to those present to do everything in their power to offer 

 all the help possible to bring about a better state of affairs. A short 

 discussion followed, in the course of which Miss Crossfield (whose 

 brother had given £1,000 towards the purchase of Colley Hill, 

 Reigate) spoke of the fact that several species of Orchids would be 

 protected by the proposed dedication to the public, and its care by 

 the National Trust. 



Some other business having been disposed of, the Conference was 

 brought to a close. 



NOVEMBER 23rrf, 1911. 



The Annual Exhibition of Varieties, etc. 



The Rev. F. D. Morice, M.A., F.E.S., President of the Entomo- 

 logical Society of London, was elected a member. 



Mr. R. South exhibited an extreme melanic aberration of 

 Brenthis {Ari/j/nnis) nclene, captured by Mrs. Helyar in the New 

 Forest, in June, 1911. Unfortunately the specimen had the outer 



