OFFTCKRS’ REPORTS FOR 19o() 
2S 
is no doubt tliat l)y introducing Watsonia to libraries and individual 
botanists on a wide scale the Advertising Committee have rendered a 
valuable service which was overdue. 
Tn addition to the source mentioned, many new members have been 
added through the ])ersonal recommendation of those already subscrib- 
ing to the Society. It cannot be said too often that the present level 
of j)ublications and other activities can only be maintained in the face 
of rising costs if our membership increases to an economic level. It 
is hoped that every member will assist by introducing friends to 'the 
Society — to the mutual advantage of those friends and the Society. 
The Field Meetings, with the exception of the one to Quendon, have 
not been quite so well attended this year. Nevertheless they have been 
characterised by an exceptionally strong spirit of co-operation and have 
proved quite as instructive and enjoyable as those of past years. 
Our publications have been issued regularly and the first volume of 
Watsonia was concluded with the issue of Part VI with index and title- 
• page. Dr Warburg is to be very warmly congratulated on having 
maintained the scientific standard of our journal which is now well 
on its way to establishing a high reputation. We are gratefvil to 
the Royal Society for a grant of £200 towards the cost of Watsonia. 
During the year the Society has taken an active part in measures 
directed towards the conservation of the British flora. We have made 
representations in connection with threats to Orchis simia, Upper Tees- 
dale, Newborough Warren and other areas. Following a suggestion com- 
municated to the Conference by Capt. Cyril Diver, Director-General 
of the Nature Conservancy, the Society has entered into close colla- 
boration with his oflUcial organisation and it is anticipated that this 
will prove an important step in furthering our object of the conserva- 
tion of the British flora. 
jMy own field work included a visit to Yorkshire in May when I was 
able to discuss the threat to Upper Teesdale from the extension of the 
tank range at Warcoj) with local residents interested in protecting the 
rare plants that grow there. In July, I visited Unst, Yell and Main- 
,land in the Shetlands and w’as able to see nine of the ten special 
Alpestria hawkweeds. A fortnight in August was spent in the Channel 
Isles and many interesting plants were seen in Guernsey, Alderney, 
Sark and Herm. 
The report of the Hon. General Secretary for 1949 included special 
reference to the valuable help given to the Society by Mr A. J. Wilmott, 
who died suddenly on January 27th this year. His death is the most 
serious loss of an outstanding supporter which the Society has suffered 
for many years. A fidl obituary notice will appear in the next number 
of W’atsonia but I should like to take this opportunity of saying how 
much his presence and help has been missed during the past year. 
During 1950 the Society was kindly represented at the meeting of 
the British Association at Birmingham by Dr R. C. L. Burges, at the 
Seventh International Botanical Congress at Stockholm by Mr S. M. 
