CONFERENCE OF CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES. 17
Mr. M. C. Duchesne read an elaborate paper on "Afforestation,"
a subject the importance of which had been emphasised by the war.
He treated of the National timber demands, and of what had been done
(or not done) for them, and alluded to the proposals of the Forestry Sub-
committee of the Reconstruction Committee, himself suggesting a
larger scheme as advisable, with more help from the state.
He held that the obligation to ensure reserves of timber lies not only
with landlords, but with the various consumers of timber. It is due
to private owners, who have kept up their woods in spite of difficulties
and without state assistance, that reserves of native timber have been
available for war-purposes; and he asks for the removal of various handi-
caps to the production of timber, and for the co-operation of scientific
and practical men.
The importance of the subject of a regular supply of tree-seeds was
noticed and nursery-work was treated of, allusion being made to the
possibilities of woman-labour.
This paper, by an expert, was very well received, and led to a good
discussion, in which Sir Charles Bathurst, M.P., took part, saying that
Mr. Duchesne deserved thanks for the way in which, for years, he had
advocated the claims of forestry.
Your delegate made some more-or-less relevant remarks, in which he
was supported by the President.
In his reply, the author said that he was in favour of an Arbor Day,
as suggested by Mr. J. Hopkinson, and offered to communicate with
the secretary in the matter of tree-seeds, so that the various societies
might help in collecting them.
A resolution was passed to the effect that trees should be planted
on Arbor Day by the delegates and other members.
A Typomap, by Mr. P>. B. Woodward, was exhibited. Its object is
to enable occurrences of species to be recorded with approximate, geographic
accuracy, without the expense of specially-engraved maps.
A summary of a paper by Mr. P. Westall, on "Grants to Regional
Museums" was read by the Secretary; but there was no time 10 discuss
it.
The need for such grants was impressed on the author dining the
formation of the Museum at Letchworth Garden City, which was founded
by the local Natural History Society. Such museums serve not only
their society, but also the public and schools; so that they deserve outside
support.
Rare Essex Bryophytes—Mr. F. W. Thorrington has
presented to the Club's Herbarium at the Stratford Museum,
specimens of Plagiochila asplenioides (L.) Dum., from Woodham
Walter Common, and Fissidens incurvus, Starke, from Horn-
church, both gathered as long ago as 1912. The former is
believed to be a new record for the county, and the latter for the
southern vice-county.—Percy Thompson, May, 1919.