AMU UAL ADDRESS. 
"Some Historical Associations of Flowers." 
By the President — Miss I. M. Roper, F.I,.S. 
HIS evening you have elected me to be the President of your 
Society for a second year, and I thank you for the honour 
you have done me in renewing your confidence. 
There is another personal matter to which I wish to make 
reference. Twelve months ago, w T hen you elected me, you are 
aware a great innovation was made by you in choosing a woman to 
be your President, and when you decided on this change, in face 
of the custom of 50 years and of some prejudice, you took a 
step for which I wish sincerely to thank you on behalf of my 
sex, even more than because I was the woman chosen. 
I rejoice greatly that the honour of providing a President for 
the Jubilee year fell to Botany, but it is still more a source of 
gratification that it came to a woman botanist. Your generosity 
will, I hope, serve to encourage other women to take up the 
pursuit of Natural History in its different branches, and help to 
extend the usefulness of the Society. 
The year 1913, as you know, has been an important one in the 
history of the Bristol Naturalists' Society, because it then com- 
pleted the full 50 years of its existence. It was felt not only by 
the members themselves, but by all who took an interest in 
Natural History that such an event should be marked in some 
distinctive manner, to show T that amidst the many calls which are 
made on the active minds of citizens in a large city, they are not 
forgetful of interests which may lead to advantages that we do not 
measure by monetary gains. They recognise that we live in a 
neighbourhood distinguished throughout the country for the rich- 
ness of its natural beauties, amidst which studies can be con- 
tinually carried on in all the branches of Natural Science, or at 
least observations can easily be made to enliven our spare hours 
and keep us in touch with many interesting events in the changing 
seasons. 
As might be expected under such circumstances, a number 
of amateurs pursue their hobbies in touch with others having the 
same interests, and although this fellowship may cause the 
splitting up into a greater number of small societies than may be 
good, wc have yet seen that when the occasion arises these smaller 
bodies are ready to unite to celebrate the success of a long estab- 
lished Society like the Bristol Naturalists', and to encourage its 
members by kindly congratulation to continue their work with 
renewed zeal. 
It was such feelings as these that prompted the Lord Mayor of 
Bristol and the Committee of the Museum and Art Gallery to 
gather together, amidst the splendid collection of natural objects, 
