20 
HONORAKY GENERAL, SECRETARY’S REPORT FOR 1947. 
OFFICERS’ REPORTS FOR 1947 
HONORARY GENERAL SECRETARY’S REPORT FQR 1947 
The year 1947 has been one of increased activity in the Society. The 
nine meetings of the Council probably constitutes a record and is in- 
dicative of the general trend of expansion. It should be added that the 
various Committees have been no less industrious. 
The most conspicuous event of the year has been the change in the 
name of the Society, which was brought about, after much consideration, 
by a postal ballot in which 168 members voted in favour of change as 
against 20 who voted for the retention of the old name. 
New rules became necessary to cover the increased activities and after 
much careful thought and discussion, both in Committee and at the 
Special General Meeting (October 2oth), a revised set of Rules came into 
effect. 
Towards the end of the year the Council approved recommendations 
of the Publications Committee for the production of a new journal giving 
increased facilities for the publication of original papers. 
The Panel of Specialists and Referees was appointed and the list 
of Local Secretaries and Recorders revised and increased. 
The “ Report for 1945 ” appeared during the summer. Members 
may rest assured that both the Publications Committee and the Council, 
who are much concerned over the difficidties still persisting in the print- 
ing trade, are doing everything possible to speed up the issue of the 
Society’s publications. 
Various threats to the countryside have been reported and referred' 
to the Council for the Preservation of Rural England with satisfactory 
lesiilts. [Local Secretaries are reminded to rei)ort to me any threats 
that they may hear of.] 
A programme of eight Excursions was carried out in which 157 mem- 
bers and guests participated. (Total attendances 241 composed of 205 
members and 36 guests.) Detailed reports are appearing elsewhere. 
Two Tea-j)arties were held during the year : one at Oxford on 11th 
January, attended by 65 members and guests, the other in the rooms 
of The Linnean Society of London, after the Special General Meeting, 
at which seventy members and guests were present. 
The Presentation of the copy of Colonel Godfery’s Monograph of 
British Orchidaceae was made to Mr Baker by the President on behalf 
of members at the conclusion of the meeting on October 25th. 
The membership of the Society continued to show a steady increase. 
The total membership as at December 31st, 1947, being 459 . 63 new 
members joined the Society, 25 were lost by death and other causes, 
which shows a nett gain of 38. We deeply regret having to record the 
deaths of Messrs E. B. Bishop, H. J. Goddard, G. Haynes, H. W. 
Pugfiley and Dr J. M. Taylor. 
