COUNTESS OF WARWICK'S RECEPTION
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excessive collecting by amateurs. The Mezereon and the Martagon-lily, two
Essex rarities recorded by Gibson, are now probably extinct from having
been transferred to cottage-gardens ; our orchids, most of which are ex-
tremely difficult to cultivate, and so require constant renewal, are only
protected from the same fate by the fortunate popular delusion that all
orchids have spotted leaves ; all ferns, except the bracken, have practically
disappeared from within a radius of twenty miles round London, though few
of them succeed in the sooty gardens of the Metropolis : an unfortunate
blunder, which has given it a political significance, threatens the existence
even of the common Primrose, except in enclosed grounds ; and even so
prolific a plant as the Foxglove is in danger of extermination in Epping
Forest. The beautiful grey foliage of the Sea-holly, so favourite a subject
with artists ; the pretty clusters of blossoms on the Guelder-rose in spring,
and its limpid red berries and red-tinted leaves in autumn, and the too con-
spicuous fruit of the Spindle-tree, have led to such a sale of these plants in
our city streets as to endanger the survival even of the shrubby species,
unless specially cultivated. Our charity should not end at home ; and, while
it would be well to emulate the example of the Swiss, who now cultivate
Edelweiss and other Alpine rarities for the benefit of tourists, we should
protest against the wholesale collecting of bulbs, and other rarities in foreign
countries by amateurs like Mr. George Maw, who might almost as well be
dealers. If we must try to grow Ferns, Foxgloves, and Primroses in London,
for instance, it would be better to obtain them from a nurseryman who pro-
pagates them than from the vagabond who robs our woodlands.
" I beg to move the following resolution :—
" That in view of the dangers of extermination threatening many
beautiful, rare, and interesting plants, all lovers of nature should do their
best to avoid this danger—(1) by abstaining from wholesale collecting, col-
lecting for merely private individual collections, needless rooting up of speci-
mens, attempting to cultivate specimens of refractory species, and purchasing
such from itinerant or other dealers ; (2) by endeavouring to persuade others,
especially school children, cottage gardeners, and dwellers in large towns, to a
similar abstention."
The President said that all who had listened to the excellent addresses
just delivered must have been impressed with the idea that the subject of the
protection of our indigenous fauna and flora for the delight and instruction
of ourselves and future generations did command the most serious and
careful consideration of English men and women. He had great pleasure in
seconding Professor Boulger's resolution with regard to plants, and in endors-
ing what had been so well said by Mr. Barrett and Mr. Harting. Referring
to a remark of Mr. Boulger's, he facetiously said that if people only realised
what a mean and hideous thing the Swiss Edelweiss was they would spare it
on that account. Mr. Howard also remarked that he did not see why, if he
were the owner of a hedgerow, anyone should rob him of valuable and rare
plants to make money out of them, and to diminish the value of his freehold.
He thought that such a person should be amenable to law just as much as
if he had dug valuable minerals out of the soil.
Prof. R. Meldola, F.R.S., (late President of the Entomological Society),
referred to the effects of the Wild Birds Protection Acts which, most beneficial