Committee for the Study of British Vegetation. 255 
that the British Committee will he able, as a body, to participate in 
the solution of a difficult question. 
Colours and Symbols to be Used on Maps. It was agreed that 
distinctive colours should be allotted to “formations”; in the 
case of smaller units no restriction was passed, since the repre¬ 
sentation of these must depend to a great extent on the scale of the 
maps and the object of the author. The use of black and white 
symbols, to be used instead of colours, is under consideration, with 
the object of preparing a scheme which will be distinctive, yet 
sufficiently plastic, to allow for future work. The whole question 
of standardising colours and symbols is, however, postponed till the 
primary botanical surveys have been extended over wider areas. 
The Committee propose to obtain advice from geographers and 
map-printers before finally fixing on any scheme. At Liverpool a 
movement was initiated, which it is hoped will secure more 
uniformity in the colouring of maps, and better results generally 
than have hitherto been obtainable. 
Recording of Frequency of Species. The importance of making 
the field-records as accurate as possible is recommended. A 
resolution was passed at the London meeting which, without re¬ 
stricting any methods in use, recommended the percentage system 
given in Pamphlet I. At Liverpool, the “quadrat method” (see 
F. E. Clements’ “ Research Methods in Ecology,” 1905) was 
also approved for shewing vegetation in greater detail by means 
of charts of small areas. Mr. Tansley was asked to prepare an 
account of this and allied methods for the New Phytologist, 
and as a re-print for the Committee (Pamphlet II.) 
Photographs. The formation of a collection of photographs, 
sketches, etc., illustrating features of ecological interest was resolved 
upon at the first meeting in Leeds. This originated a suggestion 
from the Botanical Photographs Committee of the British 
Association, which will increase the value of the collection. It is 
proposed that photographs of ecological value collected by both 
Committees be formed into one collection housed at University 
College, London, and arranged in a manner likely to ensure easy 
reference. A duplicate collection will also be formed, which may 
be lent out for short periods under certain conditions. It is in 
this way intended to facilitate comparison of the vegetation of 
areas widely apart in Britain. Many of the photographs may also 
be purchased from the owners in the form of prints or lantern 
slides. 
The meetings have also been utilised for the suggestion of new 
lines of work. The recording of the succession of vegetation on 
small areas or over large districts, has been emphasised several 
times. It has also been proposed to utilise the existing detailed 
maps of vegetation in making synthetic or general maps comparable 
with those published by several foreign botanists. The importance 
of careful investigations on the influence of edaphic conditions on 
the distribution of plants is already being demonstrated by the 
work of Professor Oliver and Mr. Tansley on plants of the salt- 
marsh, and by Mr. Woodhead’s woodland investigations. An 
important step towards the study and survey of pond-life, to 
include plants other than flowering plants, was proposed by Dr. 
Fritsch in Pamphlet I. (see also N, Walker, Naturalist, October, 
1905). 
