138 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol, XXIII. 



Mr. J. H. Maiden and Mr. F. M. Bailey seem as far as possible 

 to always quote the vernacular nam^es in reference to New South 

 Wales and Queensland vegetation, so that by a comparison of 

 these works much might be done in the way of compiling names, 

 but without some way of indelibly connecting the names with the 

 plant referred to, the result will be of little benefit. 



Even our ferns, some of which are to be found almost every- 

 where, such as Davallia diibia, have yet to receive a popular 

 name, and let me say here that if it were possible I would like to 

 revive and fix the names used by the aboriginals in preference to 

 others that might be suggested. 



Now I will tell you my scheme. We have at present a larger 

 number of country members than we have ever had, and if we 

 could give them something to do they will feel a greater interest 

 in our Club, and I have no doubt will respond to the invitation, 

 and thus strengthen the bond of union between town and country 

 members. We have also among our members a number who are 

 teachers of nature study. Now, it seems to me it would not be 

 difficult for these members to get the children of different districts 

 to collect and dry the flowers for which they have popular names, 

 and forward them to this Club to be submitted to a committee 

 composed of, say — the Government Botanist ; the Government 

 Entomologist (for, from his duties, he is almost as much interested 

 in plants as insects, and must often refer to them in his reports) ; 

 the Director of the Botanical Gardens, Mr. W. R. Guilfoyle, F.L.S., 

 who loses no opportunity of putting vernacular names before the 

 public ; a couple of school teachers, and representatives of this 

 Club. When the names are decided upon, let the flower or 

 plant be photographed, actual size or larger, reproduced by a 

 process block, and published, with the permission and help of the 

 Education Department, as a supplement to the School Paper, or 

 some other appropriate publication. The blocks to be put aside, 

 and when the scheme is completed the whole to be republished, 

 with notes, as an illustrated handbook of the wild flowers of 

 Victoria. The success of this method of illustration is easily 

 seen in the recent work on "The Plants of New Zealand" 

 published by Whitcombe and Tombs {Vict. Nat., xxiii., p. 



93)- 



I am well aware that the publication of such a work is beyond 



the means of this Club, but I think we have sufficient enthusiasts 



among our members to do the photography, and if we can prevail 



upon the Education Department to assist in the preparation of the 



blocks the chief difficulties will be overcome, and in the course 



of a year or so we shall have the pleasure of welcoming a popular 



handbook to the wild flowers of Victoria. 



Such is a brief outline of the scheme I would suggest. Details 



will have to be thought out. I know it is very crude, but I think 



