99 
Suggestions for Beginning Survey Work. 
character of the country and on the tastes and aptitudes of the 
individual worker. Ultimately, however, the work will resolve itself 
into an examination of one or more formations or associations 
occurring within some selected area, and it is suggested that these 
should be mapped to give definiteness and coherence to the work. 
An area which can be frequently visited ought to be selected, and 
it is well to set out with at least one problem on which to focus 
attention. For example, in a wood it may be the investigation of 
why an association occurs in certain places, but is absent in others; 
or it may be a comparison of the vegetation on one kind of soil 
(e.g., sandstone) with that on another soil ( e.g., limestone or chalk). 
An essential item of field-equipment is one or more note-books, 
preferably ruled in squares, and of a size as large as can con¬ 
veniently be carried. Observations made are recorded on the spot, 
and in such a way that the notes will serve as an accurate diary for 
future reference. Mapping on any scale up to -g-sW (twenty-five 
inches to the mile) can be done on the corresponding maps of the 
Ordnance survey ; they show roads and land-marks which are easily 
located, and a system of symbols which aid in vegetation work. 
The “Description of Scales and Characteristics” sold by the 
Ordnance Survey Department (6d.) is useful, and it gives examples 
of all the available Ordnance maps. The 6 -inch maps ( T o 5 co) are 
perhaps the most generally useful for indicating formations. For 
very detailed large-scale work (^^—^ 3 ), see Oliver and Tansiey, 
New Phytologist, December, 1904. 
The main points to be attended to in recording a formation or 
association are as follows:— 
A. General description of the vegetation : (a) Forest or wood 
of timber-trees (close canopy); (b) Coppice, e.g., Oak, Chestnut, 
etc., with and without “ standard ” trees ; (c) Scrub or thicket of 
alder, willow, hazel, etc., or naturally shrubby trees; (d) Dwarf 
woody shrubs, e.g., Ling, Bilberry, Gorse, etc.; (e) Grass-land, 
etc. It is convenient to name this by the dominant plants, e.g., 
Hazel-bramble thicket, ling-bilberry moor, Festucn ovina grass-land. 
In the case of an association being recorded, the formation to which 
it belongs should be given. It is also necessary to note whether 
the association or formation is closed or open in character, e.g., the 
undergrowth beneath Beech is frequently open, whereas in an Oak 
coppice it will probably be close; the vegetation on cliffs and screes 
is generally open, that on grass-land forms a close sward. 
B. Topography. Indicate the limits of the area as nearly as 
possible on the map, and note: (a) altitude from Ordnance Survey 
map, approximate slope and exposure towards points of the com¬ 
pass ; (b) the geological name of the underlying rock (Geolog. 
Survey Drift maps), and its general character; (c) the soil, including 
texture and moistness, also whether derived from the rock, formed 
from peat or humus, or transported glacial or alluvial deposit; (d) 
soil-water, whether moving or stagnant, constant or variable, etc. 
C. Flora, or a list of all the species occurring in the association. 
It goes without saying that a good field-knowledge of our native 
plants is most desirable if the notes are to be thorough; the 
assistance of a good field-botanist is most useful. The list, made 
at any time, will, of course, include plants not in flower, and here 
again most observers will have something to learn. If an unknown 
plant occur in the association, it may be collected, numbered and 
