XXXY111 
PROCEEDINGS. 
accordance with a scheme which he set out in detail, and for which 
reference should be made to the report of the proceedings of the 
Conference.*' 
He had left, he said, the primary difficulties until the last. 
Would our County Councils consider the subjects mentioned and 
the suggested method of treating them of educational value ? If 
so, would they assist? And, finally, is such an allocation of 
educational funds legal? The work of collecting information 
respecting plants, animals, and fossils, directed by local committees, 
would certainly be of direct educational value to all taking part in 
it; and the reports, when issued, would be admirable object-lessons, 
serving to show how much of interest our own counties possess. 
And now that the importance of museums in education is so 
generally recognized, would not, he asked, the sets of specimens, 
accurately named, localized, and described, be of real use to 
students and investigators ? Of the scientific importance of the 
results it was unnecessary to speak, but we must not forget that 
there is a strong feeling of local patriotism, which appeals to all, 
whether scientific or not. 
Of the legal aspect of the question, he stated that he was not 
qualified to speak, but this might be submitted to the Board of 
Education. 
The paper gave rise to a lengthy discission. The Hon. Rollo 
Bussell, representing the Haslemere Natural History Society, 
suggested that meteorology might be added to the subjects 
mentioned, and observations might be made of the diseases of 
plants, and of the relations of plants to meteorology. There was 
an enormous field for investigation in meteorology, and if it were 
added it would help, he tliought, towards getting grants from 
County and Town Councils. Experiments might also be made on 
plant-life in relation to soils, weather, and various other conditions. 
Mr. W. Ackroyd said that the work of the Halifax Scientific 
Society, which he represented, had a direct bearing on this subject, 
especially as to its legal aspect. They had two museums, one 
given up to anthropological subjects, the other mainly to geology 
and mineralogy, and for these museums honorary curators were 
appointed by the local scientific Societies. When funds are 
required they state the amount wanted, and the purpose for which 
it is required, and a representative of these curators makes 
a recommendation to a Committee of the Council, and so far they 
have been able to get all the money they required, the grants 
made from time to time having varied from £100 to £300. He 
thought that what they did in Halifax the Delegates might be 
able to do in other places. 
Your Delegate gave an account of the foundation and manage¬ 
ment of the Hertfordshire County Museum, and of the aid given to 
it by the County Council. As to giving the information acquired 
by investigations of various kinds on maps (urged by several 
* Rep. Brit. Assoc, for 1903, pp. 484, 485. 
