ANNUAL MEETING 
131 
interest. He had done everythin" that could be expected from 
a President to carry out the objects of the Society, and lie 
(Professor Boulger) could only wish that other members would 
do as much. Indeed he did not know what the results of the 
Society would be if everyone did do as much. He thought, 
however, they could congratulate themselves on the past year’s 
work. They still had a great deal to do, but they had done the 
best. As to the trees in Piccadilly, he was glad to say that in 
place of the sixteen cut down sixty-four had been planted. The 
coronation “clothes props” were only to be expected; the 
ordinary English workman was not to be trusted with a cutting 
instrument within one hundred yards of a tree. He would of 
course reason — there is the cutting instrument, and there is the 
tree ; one must be for the other. On the subject of the preser- 
vation of wild flowers. Professor Boulger said he did not know 
that he could go so far as Sir J. Goldney as to wish that 
children could not pick wild flowers. There was a difference 
between that and dealers sending up sacks of ferns to Covent 
Garden. He was sorry children interfered with Sir J. Goldney’s 
pheasants, however. A great many questions, he said, were con- 
stantly coming before them with regard to open spaces, and no 
sooner had they secured one than they received suggestions as 
to others. He cited several instances in which they had been 
successful, notably Derwentwater and Burnham Beeches, and 
he promised that the officers would be as active in the course 
of the ensuing year as in the past. He asked for a hearty vote 
of thanks to be accorded Lord Avebury for his presence in the 
chair. 
In seconding the vote. Professor Hulme said he had wandered 
with the Chairman in North Wilts, and he referred to his 
versatility and the ground he covered in all sorts of directions. 
When a stream was diffuse it was often shallow ; but from Lord 
Avebury thay got not only quantity but most excellent quality. 
If they read their Lubbock they would find they were getting 
a great deal of information very nicely put. No matter how 
diverse were their occupations and interests, they met as one in 
that room in their appreciation and their love of natural history. 
That made them at once one great brotherhood, one great 
Society ; and the brotherhood was a real brotherhood. When 
any point arose they bad only to refer to another brother to at 
once get a reply. He referred to Lord Avebury having kept a 
dandelion awake all night with an Argand lamp, and said he 
believed Lord Avebury had a dog which he was teaching 
German or dog Latin. He did not sympathise with the crusade 
against children picking flowers. There was a happy medium 
in all things ; they could not be morbidly sensitive. If children 
could not pick flowers their interest would be nipped in the bud. 
He hoped the Selborne Society would not go on that track. 
He hoped flowers would be picked, and more or less wisely 
picked. 
