NOTES—ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.
137
number of subscribers can be obtained to shield him from severe loss. We
sincerely hope that many of our readers will become subscribers to these works.
Essex Water Supply.—Dr. Thresh has issued in pamphlet form a very
interesting and valuable "Report on the Water Supplies of the various villages
and hamlets in the Chelmsford and Maldon Rural Sanitary Districts"
(Chelmsford, 1891), which includes details of analyses of over four hundred
samples of water. The pamphlet contains matter not only of value to the
sanitarian, but also to geologists and physiographers. In view of the growing
importance of a good water supply in Essex, the following passage is alarming :
"Several deep wells, which formerly yielded an abundance of water, at the
present time only furnish a limited supply, and in others which once overflowed
the water does not now rise to the surface. Dr. Downes, writing to me in
reference to these deep wells, says, 'I have told the Essex people that they are
drawing upon capital in regard to their wells—drawing from the lower Tertiaries.
I think so, because—I, the gathering surface at the outcrop is small, and to the
north steeply graded ; 2, the number of bored wells has greatly increased ; 3,
the level of the water is falling.' "
MORE EPPING FOREST.
IN the Essex Naturalist for 1889 (vol. iii. pp. 57-60) we had
the satisfaction of recording the inclusion of Oak Hill enclo-
sure into the "green lands" of the map of Epping Forest, and now
it is our pleasant task to chronicle a yet more important addition to
this grand open space. On Saturday, June 6th, 1891, a strip
of about 30 acres in extent, part of Higham Park, Waltham-
stow, was ceremoniously made free land, and many of those who
have taken an active interest in the forest had the pleasure in joining
in the hearty cheers which greeted H.R.H. the Ranger's announce-
ment—"I now declare this newly acquired land and water to be
part and parcel of Epping Forest, and to be dedicated to the use
and enjoyment of the public for ever."
Seldom has an important public improvement been carried out
with greater rapidity and success than this last addition to our great
Essex woodland. It was only on May 17th, 1890, at a meeting of
the Essex Field Club, held under the shade of the trees at Ambresbury
Banks, that Mr. Andrew Johnston made the first public announce-
ment of the proposals of Mr. E. N. Buxton and Sir T. Fowell
Buxton with regard to this matter, and by the middle of December
in the same year the matter had been practically settled. We may 
refer our readers to Mr. Johnston's speech on the occasion alluded