clxxx Journal of Proceedings.
" 2.—That botanists should resort to the assistance of Exchange Clubs,
if at all, only for the purpose of obtaining single specimens neces-
sary to fill up blanks in their herbaria, using such assistance with
discrimination, and excluding from their operations plants of great
rarity.
" 3,—That all teachers should inculcate upon their pupils, by precept
and example, the lamentable consequences of the wholesale or indis-
criminate gathering of plants, especially with their roots, or when in
seed.
" 4.—That individual botanists should seriously reflect on these con-
sequences, and abstain from taking more than the smallest number of
specimens indispensable for the purpose of genuine study, and even
from taking any examples where the extermination of a particular
species from a restricted habitat is threatened.
" 5,—That tourists and amateurs should be urged to refrain from
collecting plants of any degree of scarcity, especially when in flower or
seed, it being impossible that ten per cent. of those gathered under such
conditions can possibly live after removal.
" Finally, the Council earnestly appeals to the Editors of all Journals
devoted to Science and Art, as well as to Horticulture and Floriculture,
and to those of the leading London and Provincial papers to assist it in
creating a healthy public opinion on this subject by the expression of
their sympathy with the efforts which the Council is making, and by
refusing to insert advertisements from professional plant-hunters."]
Saturday, November 28th, 1885. Ordinary Meeting.
The sixty-third Ordinary Meeting was held in the Loughton Public
Hall, at half-past six o'clock, Mr. T. V. Holmes, President, in the chair.
The following were elected members:—Messrs. A. Griffin, C. E.
Laurie, M.R.C.S., T. G. Robinson, and A. C. Smith.
Donations to the Library were announced, and thanks given to the
donors.
The Secretary laid upon the table the Report of the Conference of
Delegates of Corresponding Societies of the British Association, held at
the meeting of the Association at Aberdeen in September last,
Dr. Cory was nominated as Auditor on behalf of the Council, and
Mr. E. Letchford on behalf of the members.
Mr. W. Cole referred to the recent correspondence in the ' Standard '
having reference to the present condition of Epping Forest. He said
that he had refrained from taking any part in the discussion, owing to
the very extreme views put forward by some of the writers, who pro-
fessed to speak in the interests of the forest, but who showed that they
possessed but a limited knowledge of the past and present state of the
woodlands. With some of the complaints he heartily agreed, such as
the condemnation of the injurious and absurd system of draining which
was pursued until quite lately. He was of opinion that the forest could
never be considered safe from injurious innovations of the kind, and its
management satisfactory, until the Epping Forest Committee was made
more representative, and the meetings held in public.