I9I4- 
Irish Societies. 
79 
the construction of railways, all those caused extinction of plants, and 
left them with no remedy to prevent it. Transplanting had been sug- 
gested, but that was not a scientific remedy, as natural distribution was 
thereby affected. 
Among the people who were accused of causing the annihilation of 
plants from a neighbourhood was the teacher of nature study. There were 
instances known where a class of children had been seen rooting up every 
specimen of a rare plant to secure specimens, but an exhaustive inquiry 
would most probably show that such occurrences were extremely rare. 
Nature study teachers as a rule were the people who were most anxious to 
preserve the local fauna and flora, and were the first to do what they could 
to prevent their extinction. Still it would be well to emphasise the fact 
that the teaching of botany could be as well accomplished, usually better, 
with the commonest plants as with the rare. 
The professional collector was generally regarded as a serious offender, 
but did not the fault really lie with the purchaser ? If our natural history 
societies could undertake the supply of rarer material, they might here 
find a remedy against ijtter destruction. If every society possessed itself 
of a complete list of the fauna and flora of its neighbourhood interchange 
of specimens might be brought about through the societies. With such a 
list it would be quite possible to inform all the teachers and others in- 
terested in biology of the rarities of a locality (without indicating the exact 
spot), so that such might be carefully avoided and so protected. Much 
valuable assistance against wholesale destruction of plants might be 
obtained from the Press — most of the daily papers published nature notes 
and here it might be strongly emphasised that it was desirable to cultivate 
a real pride in the district's possessions in the way of animals and plants. 
It was a moral claim they had to make, and that was usually the most 
difficult to accomplish. More harm than good would arise from legislative 
reforms ; the Britisher refused to allow the country to be Russianised. 
It is everybody's duty to do his best to cultivate a pride in the fauna and 
flora of his district, and do his best to prevent ruthless destruction, except 
where animals and plants had been clearly proved to be harmful. 
The Chairman, opening the discussion on the paper, said that tliere 
was no doubt that man}^ local species became exterminated by the extension 
of large towns, and that in this case it seemed hopeless to try to save the 
rarer plants. On the other hand, much could be done by education. First, 
educate the teachers of nature study, and they in their turn would un- 
doubtedly influence their pupils. He himself knew of at least one district 
in England where this plan had succeeded beyond all expectations. A. W. 
Stelfox said he was sure that all members of the botanical section would 
agree in the main with Air. Whitehouse's paper, especially where he 
recommended no artificial preservation for preventing the extinction of 
plants. One serious source of danger to the fauna and flora of parts of the 
country, especially in England, had not been mentioned by IMr. White - 
house, and that was the serious effect the dust from roads which had 
been covered with tar macadam had on them. 
