362 ANNUAL CONGRESS OR CONFERENCE.
advocates of "federation" have paid too little regard to the
varying constitutions and local surroundings of such bodies.
Where in a somewhat limited district there exist a number of
small societies, some scheme of federation would probably work
well; but in the case of large county societies I do not think that
any very rigid system of federation touching the business details
of each society would do good, and it might very easily do great
harm.
I, personally, am an advocate for the encouragement of two
large and flourishing societies in each county in the kingdom—a
scientific (natural history) society and an archaeological society.
The archaeological society should be quite distinct from the
natural history one, or the publication of family and parish
records will quickly swamp natural history work and papers, a
disastrous result only too manifest in the journals of some of the
combined archaeological and natural history societies.
The "County" is a very ancient division in the kingdom;
often somewhat natural in its confines and river-systems, and by
reason of the legislation of late years it is likely again to become
of great political and social importance. For these reasons, I
think that it is the best area for the work of a local society. I
do not agree with the view advocated by some, that there should
be several natural history societies in each county. This would
be copying the error of some of our County Councils in the
distribution of the technical instruction funds—giving small
doles to each parish, and thus often setting up practically
independent instructional organisations, lacking both knowledge
and breadth of view, and thereby retarding rather than aiding the
cause of true education. f submit that the multiplication of
small societies is an evil which we should endeavour to minimise
rather than encourage. If it is necessary to hold more widely-
spread and frequent meetings in a county than can be managed
easily by the main body, surely it would be better to establish
Parish-sections or Committees, rather than to weaken the county
institution by division of interests, which is almost always caused
by the action (or rather inaction) of small societies. Any results
obtained, or observations made, should be printed in one county
scientific publication, if, indeed, several contiguous countries
should not join in the establishment of a really good and
comprehensive local journal.
At the present time very few natural history and archaeo-
logical county societies are adequately supported by residents in
the several counties. Surely it is not too much to ask in the
"East Anglian" counties (for example) that each society should
receive the support of 500 or 600 members. A county society
should have an income of at least £300 a year. We have had
many suggestions for work put forward for the guidance of local