Page:Journal of botany, British and foreign, Volume 9 (1871).djvu/36

 26 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES.

present day. After a short reference to Mr. Carruthers' rcsearclies into palaeontolon'ical botany, the President gave an account of an attempt he had made to ascertain how far home botany had been promoted and ex- tended by means of local scientific societies and field clubs. These have been found to be so numerous, and their researches to have been prose- cuted with so much success, that he had been forcibly led to consider whether some means could not be devised for bringiiifj; about a more com- bined system of action, by which their Inljour might l)e economized and their discoveries made accessible to naturalists generally. This appeared the more feasible, as a tendency towards the same direction had been evinced in several quarters, some societies having already amalgamated, others having agreed to publish joint Transactions ; and the idea of ad- vancing sucii union having occurred independently without previous con- cert, in otlier quarters. The oldest local societies, none of which date before 1781, were shortly mentioned; and a sketch was given of the con- stitution and working of field clubs, the first of which came into existence in 1831. Now almost every county, and even division of the same county, has its own association for field investigation. A remarkable feature pre- sented by these inquiries was the growing interest shown to be taken by artisans in natural history and scientific pursuits, several societies and field clubs having been formed by mechanics and tradesmen entirely among themselves, particularly in Lancashire and the metropolis. As a means of bringing about the union above adverted to, it was suggested that copies of the adtlress should be circulated to the different societies which have so courteously and readily responded to the requests for infor- mation ; with an invitation, should they concur in the views set forth, to take into consideration the means of comlnning their operations vvith kindred associations, so as to secure the greater amount of common good. The following papers were read : — " Experiments on the Transpiration of Watery Fluid by Leaves." By W. 11. M'Nab, M.D. (see p. 19). "On the Law of Growth in Plants."" By Col. T. B. CoUinson, K.E. " Notes on WolJJia JFelwitschii," Hegelm. ; and on "Guachamacan." By A. Ernst, of Caracas, in a letter to Dr. Baitbur. Specimens of the former were pre- sented to the herbarium.

^th Beceiiibcr. — Alexander Buchan, Esq., M. A., the newly-elected Presi- dent, in the chair. The following communications were read : — " Botanical Excursions in July and August, 1870, with Pupils." By Professor Balfour. The first noticed was to Callander and Ben Lcdi on 16th July. By the side of the road leading to Leny House, near the entrance to the Pass of Leny, (Eiiauthe pimpinalloides was gathered by Dr. Dickson and Mr. Sadler. Along with ffl". jiini pinelloulcs was gathered Pimpinella mayna. On 22nd July a party of twenty-six proceeded to Inveraruan, at the head of Loch Lomond, and next day ascended Ben Vorlich. On 4th August a more extended excursion took place to Killin and the Breadalbane Mountains. On 5th August they visited Craig Chailleach. Here Sagina nivalis was collected, and Dr. Balfour remarked that this was a new station for the plant. He had gathered it first on Ben Lawers in 1847, and again, in 18fi3, on Benean, one of the tops of Benmore. On 6th August the party visited Corrach Uachdar, about eight miles up Glen Lochy. On this hill Cystopteris montana used to grow abundantly, but this year not a frond was met with. On 8th August they ascended Ben Lawers, as far as the rocks above Loeh-na-Ghat. During the excursion they exa-

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