SOME ESSEX WELL-SECTIONS.
47
1883. The plant occurred in some quantity in each locality.—H. N. DIXON,
F.L.S., Wickham House, East Park Parade, Northampton, January 11th, 1892.
Development of Buds.—Now that buds are swelling on trees and shrubs, it
will be interesting to notice the order of their development and the comparative
vigour of shoots growing from terminal, axillary and accessory buds. I do not
think such matters dependent on accident nor altogether on outward circum-
stances. The stem of a large elder tree is not produced by continuous growth
from the plumule ; its upper part is formed by the growth of a lateral bud below
the curve which is made by the original stem. Not only so, but I have observed
that on a stem from which the top has been broken off the most vigorous bud will
be an accessory bud growing from immediately below a small branch of last year.
I think that this vigorous growth in the second year of accessory buds which had
been latent during the premature development in the first year of the principal
axillary bud is not confined to the elder, but occurs in the grape vine, and other
plants with woody stems.—John Gibbs, Chelmsford.
Mineral Spring at Wanstead. — In Thomson's "Life and Times of
George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham," vol. i., p. 257 (Lond., 1860), quoting
"In edited Letters in the State Paper Office, Mr. Chamberlain to Sir Dudley
Carlton, July, 1819," it is stated that "a mineral spring was about this time
discovered at Wanstead, and there was such 'running there' by lords and ladies,
that the spring was almost 'drawn dry,' and if it should hold on," writes Mr.
Chamberlain, "it would put down the waters at Tunbridge, which, for these three
or four years, have been much frequented, especially in summer." Is this spring
known? and, if so, can any reader give some information about it ?—B. G.
Cole, Buckhurst Hill.
SOME ESSEX WELL-SECTIONS.
(Part III.)
By W. WHITAKER, B.A., F.R.S., F.G.S., Assoc. Inst. CE.
[Read January 30'th, 1892.]
THE number of Essex well-sections published, up to the end of
the year 1889, was 239 (see Essex Naturalist, vol. iii, p.
44). Four others, mostly shallow ones, have lately been added
(Ibid. vol. v, pp. 204, 216, 217), situated at Felstead and Little
Dunmow. This paper adds 33 more, and therefore brings up the
total to 276.
The only section of general interest is that at Shoebury, which is
one of the deepest in the county. Unfortunately, from a geologic
point of view, it does not pass through the Cretaceous beds, stopping
short in the Chalk, and so gives us no information as to what forma-
tion next underlies the Gault there. Its interest, therefore, is
prospective, and suggestive of the advisability of deepening the
boring as an experiment.