74 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
and he might instance also Prof. Herdman's work in connection with the Liverpool
Marine Biological Committee. He hoped that the matter would be followed up
by the Club in a systematic way.
The discussion was continued by Mr. F. C. Gould, Mr. Crouch, and others
and the meeting terminated with the usual conversazione, at which numerous
specimens were exhibited.
Spring Ramble in Epping Forest.
Saturday, April 30th, 1892.
A PLEASANT ramble through parts of the forest little known to some of the
members was taken on this afternoon, mainly for the purpose of calling the Club
together for the opening of the summer meetings, and to receive a practical
demonstration, under Prof. Boulger's guidance, of the effects of pollarding, as
pursued until the last few years, on the recent growth of the hornbeams. The
main body of members started from Chingford Station about three o'clock,
traversing Chingford Plain, Fairmead, Hill Wood, etc., to High Beach, where a
party coming from Loughton was met, and two of the verderers, Sir T. Fowell
Buxton and Mr. P. Gellatly, joined the assembly. At Fairmead Bottom a herd
of the forest deer was seen. The woods were very pleasant, the trees and
bushes just bursting into leaf, and the air was warmed by the brilliant sunshine ;
but the backwardness of the season was very marked, and insects were few. The
only butterfly seen was Pieris rapaae, although Euchloe cardamines and Gonopteryx
rhamni had been seen in the Nazing lanes a week previously. The cuckoo and
the nightingale were heard.
From the "King's Oak" the way was led through Honey Lane quarters to
Woodreden Hill, by the rustic spring, and so to the high spot just above it,
whence a fine view was obtained over the Lea Valley into Hertfordshire, etc.
Several interesting discussions were raised during the ramble in connection with
the growth of the trees, the formation of "lawns," etc. It had been asserted by
old inhabitants of the forest that if blackthorn bushes are cut down they do not
reappear ; but Sir Fowell Buxton pointed out an instance by the rifle butts where
the blackthorns had been cut, but where they were again asserting themselves
with rapidity and vigour.
Several botanists besides Prof. Boulger were with the party—Mr. J. T.
Powell, author of the interesting paper on the flowering plants of the forest, in
our January number, and Mr. C. Browne, Hon Counsel to the Club; but very few
interesting plants were noticed. The Butcher's Broom (Ruscus) was abundant,
and all were glad to note that the primroses had not been quite exterminated in
the Honey Lane woods, but were springing up again in some numbers ; beautiful
patches of woodsorrel, with its delicate flowers, were to be seen all over the
woods, and a specimen of the Spurge Laurel (Daphne laureola) had escaped the
hand of the spoiler. Mr. Powell collected fertile spikes of Equisetum maximum
and E. pratense in good condition.
A halt was called on the crest of the hill to listen to an address from Prof.
Boulger, entitled, "Pollards and their Management, with special reference to the
Hornbeam" (the text of this address will be given in the next number of the
Essex Naturalist).
Sir T. Fowell Buxton, in thanking Prof. Boulger for his address, desired to
point out that whatever was done in the forest, there was always a per contra to