THE PRESERVATION OF NATIVE PLANTS. 
213 
again, “ Botanists should reflect more seriously on the 
inevitable consequences of a hasty and immoderate gathering 
of plants.” 
It is unnecessary, in appealing to a body of naturalists, 
that I should dwell further on these points. I beg, therefore, 
in conclusion, to suggest certain practical measures which we 
intend to ask the Management Committee of the Midland 
Union to carry out by such means and with such modifi¬ 
cations as their wisdom may suggest. 
First, then, we think it would be a graceful act if they 
expressed the sympathy of our Societies with those Swiss 
naturalists who have, to use their own words, set before 
themselves an object only to be attained by many years of 
persevering labour, by passing a resolution pledging our 
members to contribute, by all means in their power, to the 
cause of the preservation of the native flora of that glorious 
land which has been the resort and the delight of so many of 
themselves and of their countrymen. 
Next, we shall ask the Committee to pass resolutions 
expressing indignation at the Vandalism by which so many of 
our own native plants are being exterminated, and pledging 
the members of every Natural History Society and Field 
Club in Great Britain to use strenuous efforts to oppose this 
destruction, and setting forth that the best means of doing so 
appear to be— 
1. To induce all teachers and professors of botany to 
impress upon their pupils the deplorable conse¬ 
quences of the careless and indiscriminate gathering 
of rare plants. 
2. To pledge all members of Natural History Societies, 
Field Clubs, and the like, to abstain from gathering- 
more than the smallest number of specimens 
necessary for their own studies, and from taking 
roots or seeds of rare species; to refuse to become 
members of or to supply specimens to Exchange 
Clubs ; and to refuse to buy plants from or directly 
or indirectly to encourage professional hunters of 
plants which are either locally or absolutely rare. 
Lastly, we shall suggest that these views should be 
embodied in a concise statement, which shall be published in 
the “ Midland Naturalist;” that steps be taken to procure its 
insertion in the journals of all such societies as have their 
own local organs; and that copies be sent to all Natural 
History and similar Societies in the kingdom, to the Council 
of the Alpine Club, to the Editors of “ Nature,” of the journals 
devoted to Horticulture and to Natural Science, and of the 
