1 84 [Proc. B. N. F. C, 



Stated that Mr. Tate's " Flora Belfastiensis," published twenty 

 years since, was the first attempt at a list of the plants of the 

 district, and pretty fairly represented our knowledge at that 

 time of the local flora. Owing to the labours of several botan- 

 ists^ all connected with the Belfast Field Club, we have at pre- 

 sent a more complete acquaintance with the native plants, and 

 somewhere about loo species must be added to Mr. Tate's 

 enumeration. The " Flora of Ulster," published by Dr. Dickie 

 about the same time as Mr. Tate's work, required to be in- 

 creased by a somewhat similar number. The "Cybele 

 Hibernica," which was subsequently published, gives a more 

 complete and a much more correct' representation of our local 

 flora, but even to it there are now a large number of additions 

 necessary. After referring to changes that are occurring in 

 our native vegetation, owing to immigration, emigration, and 

 extinction, Mr. Stewart proceeded to remark on a number of 

 plants rare or new to the north, and showed many recently 

 collected specimens. These included Glyceria aqiLatica^ Ohione 

 portulacoides, Rhyncospora sordida, Potamogeton pseudo-nitenSy 

 Stachys ambigua^ Matricaria chamomilla^ and others, in- 

 cluding several examples of Rubi and Hieracia. 



The Rev. H, W. Lett remarked that it had beep truly said 

 that the district which was best searched was usually the most 

 productive, and our own district was an example in point. Mr. 

 Lett showed specimen of Typha angustifolia gathered by him 

 in Portmore Lough. It had long been known in that locality, 

 but not having been seen recently, there was some apprehension 

 that it had disappeared. 



In the discussion which followed, it was strongly urged that 

 it is discreditable to Belfast, where we have gardens dignified 

 with the title of " Royal Botanic Gardens," that there is no 

 effort to promote the practical study of botany as a science, and 

 no place where students can obtain or examine the specimens 

 so necessary for their study. 



The election of a new member closed a very interesting and 

 instructive evening. . 



