At the first walk in April some fine specimens of Toothwort Lathraea 

 squamaria were seen. Our warm thanks are due to Miss Elwin whose 

 invitation to tea was much appreciated. In May and June, owing to the 

 late Spring, only a few specimens of Lady Orchid Orchis purpurea were 

 seen at Lynsore ; and the Clove Scented Broomrape Orobanche caryo- 

 phyllaceae had not yet put in an appearance in the Warren. Mr. D. 

 Wilberforce of Lydden, Dover, led the next walk through the woods 

 near Ewell Minnis, when a number of interesting plants were found, 

 including the Great Hairy Wood Rush Luzula sylvatica. In September 

 a smaller party visited Raikes Hole to study chalk flora and afterwards 

 Miss Long kindly invited us to tea. The October expedition to Salt- 

 wood was poorly attended in dull, foggy weather and had to be cut short 

 owing to bad visibility. 



An interesting point has been observed concerning the location of 

 cowslips on the Downs around Folkestone. The plants seem to grow 

 in profusion on the south-western and western slopes, but seem very 

 sparse on the slopes facing in an easterly direction. It may be that the 

 cold winds from the east tend to dry the soil and discourage germination 

 of seed, whereas the south-west winds may assist in keeping the westerly 

 slopes moist and therefore more receptive to seed — certainly these 

 slopes would be warmer and sheltered. 



Ragwort grew in profusion on the ridges of the Downs this summer, 

 possibly due to the absence of rabbits, and the blaze of yellow bloom, 

 seen from a distance, resembled gorse in bloom. Some farmers made 

 an effort to pull up the masses of ragwort in their pastures, but in many 

 meadows it was left to flower and scatter its seed, and the plant may well 

 be an increased nuisance as a weed next summer. 



There is one general point to which attention is drawn. Members 

 sometimes bring friends on the walks who are very welcome to join us 

 but may be unfamiliar with the district. It is urged that they should 

 be asked not to gather wild flowers indiscriminately, as sometimes a 

 rare specimen may be picked and the plant perhaps thus destroyed. 

 One of the objects of the Society is to preserve wild flowers and especially 

 rare varieties in their natural haunts, and the country walks in quest 

 of these are intended, among other things, to note the location of wild 

 flowers for record purposes. 



D. G. Standford. 



