COMMITTEE OF BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 183
Information is also solicited as to the reproduction of such species by means of
seed under natural conditions,
(a) What species produce seed freely or at all?
(b) In the case of each species examined, are seedlings found in the neigh-
bourhood of the parent plants, and do they seem to survive the first winter?
(c) In the case of young plants—that is, those which have not flowered—can
those which have grown from seed be easily distinguished from vegetative shoots
when such occur?
(d) In general, what proportion of the young plants in each species are
seedlings?
Miss Sargant, like a true naturalist, observed that she should
like the information to be obtained, as far as possible, without
rooting up the clumps, which is rather like killing the goose
which lays the golden eggs. Drawings of germinating seeds
would be acceptable.
Mr. J. David Thompson, of Washington, D.C., U.S.A.,
addressed the delegates, and explained that he had been appointed
editor of a Handbook of the Learned Societies of the World, to be
issued by the Carnegie Institute. For the purpose of this work
he asked Secretaries to send him full information respecting
their Societies.
Thus ended the Southport Conference—a meeting which
promises to be memorable, inasmuch as it may mark a new
departure in the work of many of our local Societies, by extending
their sphere of usefulness to the promotion of scientific education
throughout the country.
A SUGGESTION WITH RESPECT TO EXPLOR-
ATION AND REGISTRATION WORK FOR
COUNTY LOCAL SOCIETIES.
By W. COLE, F.L.S., F.E.S., Hon. Sec. Essex Field Club.
[Being a paper read at the Southport Meeting of the Corresponding Societies
Committee of the British Association, September 15th, 19031.]
HAVING been Secretary to a registered local scientific
society during the whole period of the life of the Corre-
sponding Societies Committee of the British Association, I
have been impressed with the number and variety of the subjects
recommended to the attention of local societies by the Com-
1 This paper will be printed in the Report of the British Association, but we repro-
duce it in order to gather the opinions of our members on the proposal.—Ed.