THE  WATSON 
Botanical  Exchange  Club. 
REPORT  FOR  1907-8. 
With  but  few  exceptions,  the  2,918  sheets  of  plants 
received  this  year  for  distribution  were  well-selected  and 
carefully  pressed.  They  embrace  also  a  wide  range  of 
critical  subjects,  though  it  is  much  to  be  regretted  that 
Batrachian  Ranunculi  were  represented  by  but  one  species, 
the  genus  Potamogeton  by  two,  and  that  not  a  single 
specimen  was  sent  of  the  order  Characece,  and  only  one 
(for  identification)  of  Salicacece.  Species  of  genera  which 
recently  have  undergone  revision  are  as  much  in  request 
as  those  which  enjoy  a  more  restricted  geographical 
distribution.  To  justify  the  Club’s  existence,  members 
should  be  students  rather  than  mere  collectors  of  rarities. 
In  spite  of  several  previous  requests  to  the  contrary, 
a  few  members  persist  in  forwarding  their  specimens  in 
sheets  much  above  the  regulation  size.  This  imposes 
much  unnecessary  work  on  the  distributor,  and  cannot, 
I  feel  sure,  be  of  any  advantage  to  the  senders.  In  one 
instance  I  spent  hours  in  reducing  the  size  of  the  sheets 
as  well  as  the  enclosing  boards.  Will  the  erring  ones 
kindly  make  a  note  for  next  year  ? 
Mr.  Bickham’s  generous  parcel  deserves  special 
mention.  Not  only  is  he  an  easy  first  in  point  of  number, 
but  the  care  which  he  has  bestowed  upon  his  specimens, 
as  well  as  the  faultless  manner  in  which  they  were 
packed,  can  be  recommended  to  the  few  who  have  yet  to 
learn  that  herbarium  specimens  need  not  of  necessity  be 
wretched  apologies  of  their  former  selves. 
