The British Vegetation Committee. 
99 
formation of internal dew in the soil, though I am unaware whether 
the question has been experimentally investigated. In the case of 
the shingle this solution comes first to the mind, and there is con¬ 
siderable reason for believing that it will turn out to he well 
founded. 
In any case it would be a serious error to classify the shingle 
bank, on grounds of inadequate water supply, with the so-called 
xerophytic habitats. Shingle plants no doubt on occasion have to 
suffer vicissitudes, leading to unfavourable conditions for vege¬ 
tation, but these arise from causes other than a defective water 
supply. 
EXPLANATION OF PLATE IV, 
Illustrating Prof. Oliver’s Paper on “ The Shingle Beach 
as a Plant Habitat.” 
Fig. 1.—Photograph of the landward face of the Chesil Bank seen over 
the waters of the Fleet or Backwater. Above the line of cliff the sloping bank 
bears a discontinuous covering, mainly Silene maritima. Below this the 
ravines separated by buttresses. At the water’s edge the terrace (fore¬ 
shortened) fringed with bushes of Suada fruticosa. Photograph taken Sept. 
1911, from the foot of Chesters Hill, about two miles east of Abbotsbury. 
Fig. 2.—Photograph of new hook at Blakeney Point, formed in March — 
April, 1911, on the bank marked with an arrow in Text-fig. 3. The stump of 
the old bank is on the right (with vegetation). The new bank stretches across 
the picture and rests on the saltings ; it has blocked the outflow of the creek 
which enters the picture low down on the right. The horizontal streaks on 
the bare shingle consist of tidal drift. Photograph taken July, 1911, by Mr. 
E. J. Salisbury. 
Fig. 3. Inner edge of Blakeney main shingle bank encroaching on the 
11 Marams ” ; looking west. The bushes are Succda fruticosa. The photograph 
was taken in September, 1908, and the bare projecting fingers of shingle 
have since that date become partly covered by a growth of seedling Susedas. 
Fig. 4. Chesil Bank looking S.E. from a point opposite Burtons Mere, 
near Burton Bradstock. The grass on the downs is completely parched by 
the drought, and sheep have come down to graze on the fresh succulent 
Silene maritima, of which considerable quantities are present. Photograph 
taken September 25th, 1911. 
THE BRITISH VEGETATION COMMITTEE. 
T1AHE record of this Committee has from time to time been out- 
j lined in these pages. Since the proceedings were last reported 
(N.P. VIII, p. 203, 1909) meetings have been held in Liverpool, 
London, Manchester (2) and Aberystwyth, each with satisfactory 
results as regards attendance and progress. The constitution of 
the Committee has undergone one fundamental change through the 
institution of an Associate-membership. This may be described as 
a matriculation stage open to active workers on vegetation. In the 
case of younger members, at least, it is inevitable that though for a 
time they may as research students take up ecological studies, they 
may later, from inclination or necessity, become no longer active in 
the field ; during the earlier period it is advantageous to meet other 
