236 
PROCEEDINGS COTTESWOLD CLUB 
1917 
The County Flora 
Field work in Gloucestershire has, on all hands, been 
reduced to a minimum in 1917 ; very few records of localities, 
and hardly any specimens, have been received by the Editor. 
The work of editing, however, is proceeding rather more 
quickly : the analysis of past records is being steadily carried 
out and a number of the Natural Orders are already practically 
ready (in summary) for the Preliminary or Tentative List. 
By the end of the winter it is hoped that a good proportion 
may be finished. If there is less to say about ‘ progress ' 
this year, the little that can be said brings us much nearer to 
the prospect of ‘ completion.' 
As is well known, the Rev. Walter Butt had for some years 
before his death been engaged in building up the foundations 
of a County Herbarium. The herbarium contains many 
species of general interest from all parts of the British Isles — 
a necessary part even of a ‘ local ' herbarium ; but it con- 
centrates and is strongly developed in the direction of Glouces- 
ter county specimens. It is very far from complete even in 
the latter respect : there are still lacking, for example, many 
species from one division of the County which are represented 
for the other division, for Mr Butt aimed at collecting speci- 
mens from both East and West Gloucester. (The two parts 
of the county so named are separated by the Stroudwater 
Canal as far as the Severn at Framilode, and thence by the 
Severn itself up to Tewkesbury.) Much besides requires to 
be done in critical species : Rubus is fairly well represented ; 
Rosa and Hieracium and Batrachium less well ; but Salix, 
Euphrasia and others have little to show. 
The specimens are arranged according to the loth edition 
of the London Catalogue, and are mounted on cartridge paper, 
the sheets being placed in strong cardboard boxes, each of 
which occupies a shelf inside the large case made for- the 
purpose. This case is fitted with roller shutters, which com- 
plete a very efficient means of protection for the specimens. 
Placed in a dry room, and treated with ordinary care, botanical 
specimens so protected should last practically for ever. 
, H. J. Riddelsdell. 
