THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
185
drawers to each of the principal timber trees. The compartment for each tree
might be about a foot square, and should contain specimens of:
" The heart-wood, such as these blocks, or, better still, a proper transverse
and vertical section.
" The trunk bark, showing its typical form.
" The branch wood, showing the bark in its youthful appearance.
" The twigs, showing the bud forms.
" The leaf, of course.
" The fruit, or seed vessels.
" In the case of some trees other points should be shown, such as the beauti-
ful inflorescence of the elm, the flexible inner bark of the lime, known to com-
merce as "bass," and so on.
" I felt much hesitation in bringing such an unscientific collection before
the Club, but I was re-assured by Mr. Cole ; and if your Hon. Sec. and Council
think the blocks exhibited will be of use, till better sections can be procured, I
shall be happy to present them to the Essex Field Club Museum.''
The Chairman said that they were much obliged to Mr. Gould for bringing
his interesting exhibit, and he was sure that the Council and Curator would
receive his donation with pleasure.
Mr. Elliott exhibited some spikes of maize which had ripened that season in
his garden at Woodford. It was but seldom that maize could be successfully
grown in average seasons, but the prolonged hot weather of last summer had
been very suitable for the plant.
Mr. Cole said that maize was grown in some quantity at West Mersea, and
in some seasons the yield was good.
Mr. Oldham exhibited some specimens of Lepidoptera from the Epping
Forest district, including Corycia temerata, Platypteryx lacertula and other
species.
Mr. Cole exhibited, on behalf of our member, Mr. Wm. White, Curator of
the Ruskin Museum, Sheffield, two splendidly illustrated botanical works, viz.,
William Curtis's "Flora Londinensis : or, Plates and Descriptions of such Plants
as grow wild in the Environs of London," etc. London ; folio ; 1777 ; and
Moore's Nature-printed "Ferns of Great Britain and Ireland," Folio ; London,
1857.
These books had been sent by Mr. White for exhibition at the Fungi's Meet-
ing, but unfortunately they had not arrived in time.
Mr. Crouch brought up a portrait of the late Mr. H. W. King, Hon. Sec. to the
Essex Archaeological Society, whose recent death they all deplored, and made a
few remarks on the life work of his old friend (see notice on p. 195).-
Mr. Walter Crouch read extracts from his paper "Astronomy in Wanstead :
A Chapter of its past History " (printed in the present number, see pp. 151-163).
The Rev. W. C. Howell made some remarks on subjects suggested by Mr.
Crouch's paper, and exhibited an interesting old telescope of Gregorian construc-
tion in his possession, made by James Short, who was commissioned by Bradley
to make a telescope. It is 121/2 inches long. The principal mirror is 2 inches in
diameter, and the second one, 3/4 inch diameter. The name of the maker "James
Short" is engraved at the eye end of the tube, together with the formula "145/1028-7,"
referring to the focal length, etc., of the mirrors. The eye-piece is Huygenian.
The mirrors still retain their exquisite polish, and the definition of the telescope
is sharp, and Mr. Howell has recently tried it on Venus and the moon. It is