NOTES—ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.
247
knowledge can appreciate the 'gloom' of these wide-spreading branches, and but
for judicious thinning, adopted by the conservators and recommended by the
experts in their recent report, no young trees could live even if they were to
sprout up from mother earth. In the desire for the conservation and extension
of the oak and the beech, it is clearly good policy not to stifle out the
hornbeam.
" But the lesson does not end here. Why is such a tree, eminently valuable
for domestic and other purposes, not cultivated more generally ? The agricultural
cry in Essex is very sad, and several other counties are giving barely remunerative
returns. Why should not this tree be more planted on the lands of Essex, Kent,
Norfolk, and other places where it is found to do well ? The greatest drawback
that foresters and forestry has to contend with is that there is scant return in the
lifetime of a man, and the want of capital. Here is a species of tree that will
give something like an adequate return, if under good cultivation, after twenty
years' growth. True, it must be planted on flat lands, or the London clay, or
tome cool subsoil, not on the chalk, to flourish at its best; but there are thousands
of acres of that kind that are not paying a living wage to anybody. A portion of
those acres might be so utilised. The timber question is a national one, and
must be dealt with from a national point of view. The powers that be may
delay, but it is only a question of time. Our waste and unproductive lands,
both highland and lowland, must be turned to some practical account. There
are plenty of competent foresters to carry out the work. There is a good bit of
moonshine in ascribing our deficiency to the want of science and art schools of
forestry. Find the money, and those of us who have toiled to be proficient will
easily find the men."
To this, another correspondent, "G.H.," adds: "Your correspondent,
'Expert,' has not noticed one purpose which this tree may serve with advantage.
It makes a most admirable hedge. In the place from which I write (Kenmure
Castle, New Galloway), there is a hornbeam hedge fencing one side of a large
garden. It is 32 feet high, and can only be trimmed by the aid of special
scaffolding which is provided for it. This fence is attractive in appearance, and
thoroughly effective. There is a smaller one a short distance away."
Notes from Curtis's "Flora Londinensis."—In this fine work, published
in two volumes, folio, 1777-1787, are two notes of interest to Essex botanists. The
first relates to Sambucus ebulis, the Dwarf Elder or Danewort, which is now rare in
most parts of the county. Curtis says : "In most Physic Gardens this plant is
cultivated, but is rarely met with wild about London. I have observed it two
places only, the one in a hedge which surrounds a part of Mr. Beaufoy's garden,
Cupers Bridge, Lambeth Marsh ; the other in a lane leading down to Opton,
Essex, by the garden wall of the late Dr. Fothergill." He gives the following
quaint account of the "Stinking Morell," Tennyson's "fungus in the holt,"
Phallus impudicus, which so commonly reveals itself by its evil odour in parts of
Epping Forest, particularly in Lodge Bushes. "In the months of August
September, and October, this singular phenomenon of the Fungus tribe makes its
appearance in woods, hedgerows, and hedges, in some places abundantly, in
others rarely ; near London it has been found in Combwood and Norwood, but
more plentifully in a small fir wood near the 'Spaniard,' Hampstead Heath
before remarked for producing the Hydnum auriscalpium ; in this wood, ou the
24th September, 1780, I discovered nearly a dozen growing within a small space
of each other, some were full-grown, others in their egg state, risen about half-