Co-Operation of Volunteer Correspondents

From an early stage in the work of this Department, efforts have been made to get into touch with all who are interested in botanical or nature-study work. These efforts have been amply rewarded, as they have revealed the fact that there are many individuals throughout the Province who are, or have been, interested in the flora.
It has been the aim of this office to encourage such individuals by rendering them such assistance as they may require in the identification or preparation of their specimens. Through this means many enthusiastic correspondents have been secured, who are gladly co-operating by supplying specimens for the herbarium and for the survey records. These correspondents include teachers, surveyors, members of field clubs, natural history societies, and individuals who are to a large extent isolated and who have taken up the study of the flora as a hobby in their spare time.

Owing to the fact that there is no book of much value available for assisting amateurs to become acquainted with the names of the native plants, the facilities offered by the Botanical Office for the identification of specimens have been well taken advantage of. The plan adopted is that persons desiring to have specimens identified collect duplicates of each plant and send one set to the Botanical Office, while the other is retained by the collector. Each specimen sent to the Botanical Office bears a number corresponding to the number on the specimen retained by the collector. Along with the number is given such details as are required concerning locality, habitat, date, etc.

If the correspondent is situated within a short distance of the Botanical Office, he or she may forward the specimens fresh, otherwise the correspondent prepares duplicate herbarium specimens and sends them in for identification towards the close of the collecting season. The duplicates sent to the Botanical Office are retained for future use, but a list bearing the numbers and the names of the specimens is forwarded to the correspondent, so that by comparing the numbers of the specimens in his collection with the numbers on the list he obtains the name of the specimens. Several correspondents have commenced private collections as a result of the assistance of this office. A large number of specimens have been received from the following enthusiastic correspondents:

W. H. Brittain, Esq., Vernon, B.C.
H. C. A. Cornish, Esq., B.C.L.S., Rossland, B.C.
George Fraser, Esq., F.R.H.S., Ucluelet, B.C.
E. B. Hart, Esq., B.C.L.S., north-east of the Province.
Prof. J. K. Henry, Vancouver, B.C.
Dr. C. T. Hilton, M.B., B.S., Port Alberni, B.C.
Miss A. S. MacKenzie, Mission City, B.C.
Dr. C. F. Newcombe, Victoria, B.C.
C. C. Pemberton, Esq., Victoria, B.C.
Fred Perry, Esq., Vancouver, B.C.
Mrs. S. Stoker, Duncan, B.C.
William Taylor, Esq., Vancouver, B.C.
J. A. Teit, Esq., Ethnologist, Spences Bridge, B.C.
E. Wilkinson, Esq., B.C.L.S., Victoria, B.C.
Eli Wilson, Esq., B.A., Armstrong, B.C.

Some of the above deserve special mention for the assistance rendered to this office. Mr. H. C. A. Cornish has supplied very good collections illustrating the flora of Rossland and district. Many interesting specimens, including a few new records for British Columbia, have been received through his co-operation.

Mr. G. Fraser, who has for many years taken a keen interest in the native flora, has on several occasions sent collections of rare native species for the Botanical Garden, in addition to frequent collections of plants from the west coast of Vancouver Island for the Herbarium.

Mr. E. B. Hart, through the Surveyor-General, G. H. Dawson, Esq., sent in an interesting collection of specimens illustrating the flora of the north-east portion of British Columbia, which has hitherto been unexplored. He is spending the winter in this region so as to be able to commence work early in spring, and it is expected that as a result of his work during the coming season a fairly good knowledge of the flora of this outlying portion of the Province will be obtained.

Prof. J. K. Henry, an observant field botanist who has been interested in the native flora for about twenty years, has given much valuable information concerning the flora of particular localities. Many herbarium specimens have also been contributed by him.

Dr. C. F. Newcombe has for many years been keenly interested in the native flora, and the Botanical Office is indebted to him for information regarding the early literature referring to the flora. Many valuable specimens have also been received as a result of his peregrinations on the west coast.

Mr. J. A. Teit, who is well known for his work amongst the Indians in the Interior, has had many opportunities of collecting specimens from the Dry Belt during his travels, and the Botanical Office has benefited by his contributions of specimens for the Herbarium, as well as of plants for the Botanical Garden.

Mr. E. S. Wilkinson has contributed specimens from the northern portions of British Columbia collected under great difficulties owing to the mountainous nature of the country. Several of his specimens from the north are of particular interest.

Mr. Eli Wilson, an enthusiastic field botanist, who has for thirteen years been interested in the native flora, has from time to time contributed collections of specimens for the Herbarium and seeds for the Botanical Garden. In December, 1913, he presented his whole collection of over 1,000 herbarium specimens to this office. The collection is very representative of the Interior, and contains many interesting and rare plants.

The following have from time to time contributed specimens, but have not yet become regular correspondents of the office:

F. Gray Aldous, Esq., B.C.L.S., Shushartie Bay, B.C.
Professor Bessey, Michigan, U.S.A.
L. N. Bower, Esq., Peace River District, B.C.
R. P. Bishop, Esq., B.C.L.S., Victoria, B.C.
G. V. Copley, Esq., B.C.L.S., Victoria, B.C.
J. G. Darling, Esq., B.Sc., Vancouver Island.
N. Gething, Esq., Peace River District, B.C.
Balfour Gourlay, Esq., Edinburgh, Scotland.
C. de B. Green, Esq., Graham Island, B.C.
F. Groves, Esq., Kelowna, B.C.
Mrs. J. Henshaw, Vancouver, B.C.
A. J. Hill, Esq., C.E., New Westminster, B.C.
F. James, Esq., James Island, B.C.
R. J. Matthews, Esq., Gibson Heights, B.C.
F. L. McKeever, Esq., F.R.M.S., Penticton, B.C.
G. K. McLean, Esq., Vancouver, B.C.
Hugh Samson, Esq., Vancouver, B.C.
Thomas Selwood, Esq., Vancouver, B.C.
Herbert G. Selwood, Esq., Vancouver, B.C.
Principal R. S. Sherman, Vancouver, B.C.
J. A. Smith, Esq., Duncan, B.C.
T. H. Taylor, Esq., B.C.L.S., Vancouver, B.C.
P. de Noe Walker, Esq., Victoria, B.C.
J. A. Walker, Esq., B.C.L.S., Vancouver, B.C.
E. A. Wallace, Esq., Victoria, B.C.

The following have intimated their willingness to co-operate in supplying specimens of the flora of the district in which they are situated during 1914:

H. M. Fraser, Esq., Surveyor, Vancouver, B.C.
David Gellatly, Esq., Gellatly, B.C.
Gustave Gervais, Esq., South Hazelton, B.C.
R. Landell, Esq., B.A., Golden, B.C.
John Marr, Esq., M.A., Chilliwack, B.C.
W. G. Paxton, Esq., Atlin, B.C.
Robt. Pelton, Esq., Atlin, B.C.
John Stephen, Esq., M.A., Sointula, Malcolm Island, B.C.
Charles Webster, Esq., Armstrong, B.C.
H. H. Whittaker, Esq., Kaleden, B.C.
James A. Wattie, Esq., M.A., Kamloops, B.C.