BOTANICAL REPORT 1 878. 1 5 



Bradfield, &c. The number of flowering plants observed was 

 barely a third of that at the two preceding meetings; the falling 

 off being due partly to the season being too far advanced, partly 

 to the less extent of ground covered, but more especially to the 

 poverty in species, which is a common character of the flora of 

 this and other coal-measure districts. The timber — principally 

 oak — in Wharncliffe Chase though of great age is small and 

 stunted as compared with that in other ancient forests, and many 

 of the trees are gradually dying; either from exhaustion of the 

 soil, or from the atmospheric contamination resulting from coke 

 burning and other industrial operations so largely carried on in 

 the surrounding district. 



SUMMARY. 



[Here refer to the Table on the next page.] 



In every class an increase is observed over the number of 

 species recorded last year. It will be evident however from the 

 last two columns of the table on the next page, that as regards the 

 lower cryptogamia we have hardly touched the border of our field. 

 Many laborers and probably a greater subdivision of labor will 

 be necessary before w^e can work it at all thoroughly. We have a 

 fair sprinkling of bryologists, but the students of the lower orders 

 of the cryptogamia are as yet few and far between. 



