VOLUME XV. 
A CONFKRKNCE ON VKGETATION STUDY. 
BY R. 1,1.0 YD PRAKGER. 
In the /risk Nahiralist for April last, some account was 
given of the formation of a committee for the survey and 
study of the vegetation of the British Islands, and of its pre- 
liminary deliberations, I had an opportunity of being present 
at the third meeting of the committee, held in lyiverpool on 
November 18-19, and believe that some notes of what was said 
and done at this conclave may be of interest to Irish botanists. 
The committee cannot be accused of indolence. The last 
members to arrive (Dr. Pethybridge and myself) reached 
Liverpool at 3 p.m., and the first to leave (the I^ondon 
members) left at 4 p.m. next day. In the interval we sat for 
ten hours — from 3.30 till lo.o p.m. on the i8th, with an hour 
off during which we dined together, and from ii.otill 3.30 ou 
the 19th. The first session was held at the Exchange Station 
Hotel, the second, by permission of Prof. Harvey Gibson, in 
the Botanical Department of the University, where we had the 
advantage of a lantern, black-board, and so on. Out of a com- 
mittee of ten members, seven were present — namely. Prof. 
F. W. Oliver, D.Sc, F.R.S., and A. G. Tansley, M.A., of 
University College, I^ondon ; W. G. Smith, B.Sc, Ph.D., of 
L,eeds University (Secretary of the Committee) ; F.J. Eewis, 
F.Iy.S., of Liverpool University ; C E. Moss, M.Sc ; and the 
two Irish representatives already referred to. Of the three 
absent members (Messrs. Rankin, Hardy, and Woodhead) two 
were abroad, so the meeting was nearly as full a one as was 
possible. Prof. F. E- Weiss, D.Sc, of the University of Man- 
chester, who is secretary of the British Association Botanical 
Photographs Committee, was also present by request. 
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