SELBORNIANA 
117 
banks are literally clothed with them, whereas in Gloucestershire primroses and 
ferns are comparatively scarce. In parts, e.g., in most of the Vale, they are almost 
entirely absent, on the Cotswolds they are almost confined in limited numbers 
(and, as regards ferns, species) to the woods, and it is only north-west of the 
Severn that they become fairly abundant ; but even there the lanes and banks are 
very different to those in Devon. As a result, professional plant-stealers find far 
greater temptations in Devon than in Gloucestershire, and their presence in Devon 
certainly justifies the formation of an Association, since the many offenders enable 
a small proportion of them to be reached who can be proved, as already stated, to 
have damaged the land. However, this state of things does not exist in Glouces- 
tershire, and an Association as the law now stands would have great difficulty in 
obtaining any success justifying its formation, and its feebleness would probably 
prejudice future efforts. Besides, as the law now stands the prosecutions do not 
really touch the fundamental question, or go to the foot of the matter at stake. 
Possibly in Gloucestershire, besides primroses and ferns, daffodils, fritillaries, and 
lilies of the valley might be in danger ; but it is submitted that the formation of a 
list must be left to the further consideration under advice to be given by the 
county’s expert botanists. 
( b ) With regard to the plants liable to be rooted up by trippers and villagers, 
these include the above and others rarer locally. But prosecutions, as the law now 
stands, for the rooting up of a few primroses or daffodils, if at the same time this 
caused damage to land, would be very difficult to conduct, and would probably 
bring an Association into great disfavour and do more harm than good as regards 
the protection of plants. With regard to primroses, ferns and daffodils, if they 
are fairly common where such persons might happen to root some up, the damage 
done would be small, and prosecutions would call for a general denunciation. If 
the plants are not common in the particular locality where they are being rooted 
up, and with regard to other plants of a rarer nature which might appeal to 
trippers and villagers, in such cases damage would be done ; but one cannot well 
have a general law if it is intended that it should apply to one locality and not to 
another. The only remedy seems to be much as in Canada, to have special 
localities protected with a notice under a new law saying that plants must not be 
dug up, and that if they are, then, that offenders will be prosecuted. Such 
localities, if public, could be protected either by selection by the County Council, 
or by parishes, or by magisterial districts ; or, if private, landowners could apply to 
the same authorities for protection. However, it is desirable with regard to plants 
of this class also that they should come under the consideration of the county’s 
expert botanists. 
(r) With regard to the third class of plants — the rarest species — which are 
liable to destruction by botanists, these might be protected in a few places by the 
same methods. However, it is noteworthy that not only in Gloucester, but 
throughout England, as the Secretary of the Committee has been informed by Mr. 
G. Claridge Druce, F. L.S., such plants have received all due regard at the hands 
of botanists. Several species only known respectively each in one place in Great 
Britain, still grow well there, in spite of, or possibly owing to, collecting botanists ; 
nor is any case of extermination by such persons known. As an example may be 
cited the Cotoneaster vulgaris, at Orme’s Head, and in Gloucestershire Euphorbia 
stricta. Still it is desirable that the law should be altered, because the mere fact 
of a 'public sanction to the protection of rare plants would inspire botanists to 
guard their treasures for future generations. 
The third matter that the club must deal with, in order to see how an associa- 
tion may prove useful, is the methods of preservation available where the laws 
(which it is hoped will be passed) must prove deficient or inapplicable. 
There is little doubt that protection by law could not be extended towards 
picking, unless possibly in special fields, woods and public places, not only- 
placarded but enclosed, or having definite boundaries, as well. The future laws 
must therefore prove deficient in much frequented spots, because in these the 
continual picking of flowers and the trampling down may bring about a severe 
diminution, at any rate of some rare species. Spots like these, if they are to be 
enclosed, must be carefully demarcated by our expert botanists in the way already 
suggested. It is stated that care must be taken in demarcating spots, and for this 
reason : if too many are selected the association or club or other of the preservers 
