28 i 
THE BOTANICAL EXCHANGE CLUB 
OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 
REPORT OF THE DISTRIBUTOR FOR 1800. 
A very interesting lot of plants have been contributed by members 
of the Club for the year 1890; the chief critical genera are well 
represented. The Rubi have exceeded even last year’s large number, 
occupying 124 covers as against 90. 
The mention of this genus recalls a great loss that the Club and the 
botanical world generally have sustained in the death of Mr. T. R. 
Archer Briggs ; of whose life an admirable sketch has appeared in a 
recent number of the “Journal of Botany.” 
I have omitted from this Report most of the cultivated plants 
contributed, unless there was obvious reason for noticing them ; and 
also many of those plants which have been disposed of in recent 
Reports. It saves much trouble to the Distributor, when members 
give the reference to such former criticisms, either on the label or in 
a separate note. With the object of saving trouble and confusion, 
I have entered a Reference Number in the right top corner of the 
label corresponding to a similar number following the name of the 
plant in this Report, in cases where a member has sent several 
gatherings of one plant ; such as Rosa mollis , R. subglobosa , Mentha 
arvensis. 
Some 36 specimens of Rubus — and the number ought no doubt 
to have been larger ! — were destroyed as being altogether unfit for 
circulation. Specimens of this difficult genus need to be especially 
good, to give any chance to a critic, or be of any service to the 
members. The other 31 specimens destroyed were of a common 
grass, gone over, and sent by mistake for another species. 
The best thanks of the Club are hereby conveyed to those who 
have so obligingly discussed or determined our critical plants : — 
to Prof. Babington, for the labour bestowed on Rubi , &c. : Mr. J. G. 
Baker, Rosce and Menthce ; Mr. W. H. Beeby, Viola , Rumex and 
Sparganium ; Mr. Arthur Bennett, Carices , Graminece and numerous 
miscellaneous plants ; to M. Crepin, for very careful work with the 
Rosce ; Dr. Focke, Rubi ; Mr. Jas. Groves, Circcea and Characca ; 
Mr. F. J. Hanbury, Hieracia; M. Ernest Malinvaud, Mentha ; Rev. 
W. Moyle Rogers, for much help in verbal discussion as well as 
written notes on Rubi ; M. Arvet-Touvet, Hieracia; and Dr. F. 
Buchanan White, Salices. We have much cause to regret that Frol. 
Hackel was quite unable to examine our grasses this year, through 
