Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union : Annual Report, 1932. 43; 
been found at Almholme, near Doncaster, for the three molluscs which 
associate together Aplecta hypnorum, Limncea glabra and Planorbis 
spivorbis. At another place at Almholme a very small grip in a grass 
lane was full of Planorbis spirorbis, quite 70 per cent, being distorted. 
Some very curious forms were found during our first visit. A colony 
of Helicella itala was found by the edge of a limestone quarry, Kirkdale 
Woods, Kirby Moorside. 
Slugs have not been nearly so plentiful this year, a few isolated 
places have produced quite the average amount. Mr. Kenneth Howell 
found Arionater v. fasciata in Saw Woods, Leeds, and a very fine 
specimen of Limax maximus v. sylvatica which he took at Kirk Smeaton, 
its measurement when fully extended being 8J inches. I believe this 
constitutes a record for length. 
BOTANICAL SECTION. 
(Chris. A. Cheetham) — This section meets under the shadow of a 
great loss. Mr. Jo. Beanland will long be missed when the distribution 
of any Yorkshire plant is under discussion, and his cheery voice and help- 
ful suggestions will be heard no more at these meetings he liked so well. 
We shall only realise our loss as time goes on and his knowledge is wanted 
in our discussions. 
Another loss to Yorkshire botanical knowledge is that of an associate 
of the Union, Mr. H. H. Sturdy, of Settle. He was less known to our 
members than he was to botanists who visited the district he knew so 
well. They will find the gap he has left when they come again to Craven. 
The year has been more normal in all respects than the past two, 
and the results appear somewhat uninteresting owing to this general 
average of weather, flowering and fruitage. 
January and February gave promise of a very early spring, and 
Celandines were reported in flower during the first week or two of the 
year. Coltsfoot and Primroses were in bloom at the commencement of 
February, and even the Alpines were early. Hutchinsia was in flower 
January 25th, and Saxifraga oppositifolia on February 27th. The 
promise of an early spring was not kept, however, and March, April and 
May were cool and sunless, so that spring flowers were, on the whole, 
a week or two later than usual. 
A general impression of the flowering would be that it was a good 
display, but it did not last very long. The meadow Buttercups made a 
striking show, and it was suggested in some cases that they were better 
seen this year than is usual owing to the late growth of the grass crop. 
The Heather made a fine show of colour, but did not last very long. 
One curious result of the check to growth due to the cold spell in spring 
was seen in Colt Park Wood at the end of June, the fern leaves, most 
particularly those of Filix mas, had a pale green margin, varying up to- 
an inch in width, very distinct from the normal dark green of full growth 
as if there had been a distinct check and maturing of the early growth 
and then a sudden recommencement of growth when the warm dry spell 
came in June. 
Coming to the results as shown by the fruitage, few seem very good 
from all districts ; perhaps the Wild Rose, Raspberry and Mountain Ash 
might be put in this class. Then follow the Elderberry, Sycamore, 
Beech and Ash, the last-named seems poor near Bradford and Hudders- 
field, but in Craven many trees are full of fruit, though, as is usually 
the case, there are many quite bare, and this may be owing to a tendency 
to become a dioecious species, and these to be male plants. The Oak 
came into leaf two or three weeks before the Ash, but it has produced 
a very poor crop of fruit in most districts. Hawthorn is very uneven, 
1933 Feb. 1 
