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THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
that the water from Wales was so pure that it would corrode the pipes, and cause
people to die from lead poisoning. The motion was carried unanimously.
Mr. Howard briefly replied.
Mr. Thos. Thompson asked if there was any necessity for the use of lead pipes
in the supply of water ? The remedy was a simple one, and it was to substitute
iron pipes for lead ones. The supply of water from Thirlmere to Manchester
passed through a culvert in which neither lead nor iron was used, and he did not
see why all service pipes should not be made of iron.
The Chairman said there was no doubt iron was the best, if you could persuade
the workmen to use it.
Both in the Presidential Address and in the Report of the Council, cordial
acknowledgment was made of Mr. Lockyer's long and arduous work on behalf of
the Club, as Librarian and Treasurer, and at the meeting great regret at his retire-
ment from office was expressed.
A vote of thanks to the Officers of the Club concluded the business of the
meeting, which then resolved itself into a conversazione, at which light refresh-
ments were served as usual.
FOREST AND FIELD RAMBLE, AND SECOND BOTANICAL DEMONSTRATION.
Saturday, May 2nd, 1896.
For the purpose of affording scope for Mr. Paulson's Field Demonstrations, it
was decided to repeat the ramble through that part of the Forest to the Seward-
stone Lanes taken in 1893 (see Essex Naturalist, vol. vii., pp. 95-99), the
spring woodlands and rich valley slopes affording an ample flora, not to speak
of the interesting waterside plants of the alluvial banks of the old River Lea.
Some interesting topographical and antiquarian details of the district
traversed will be found in the Report of the previous Excursion alluded
to above.
The members and friends met at about 3.30, at the corner of Bury Wood,
near the "Woodman," and Mr. Paulson having assumed the role of
"Botanical Conductor," the work of the afternoon began in gathering some
of the most common of our spring flowers, and noting points that are often
overlooked by those who neglect the most abundant species. In Bury Wood
a halt was called that we might examine one of the Wood-Violets, Viola
riviniana, Reich., and observe how it differed from the other woodland form,
Viola silvestris, Reich. Later in the afternoon we were able thus to compare
Cardamine hirsuta, Linn, and Cardamine flexuosa, With., two plants often
passed as one by those whose object is to seek for rarities only.
A very interesting floral sight was afforded by the abundance of the white
flowers of the Wild Garlic, or "Ramsons" (Allium ursinum, L.), which is
more common in this wood than in any other part of the Forest.
The party then returned to the corner of the wood, and passing over the
long green leading to Sewardstone Common, made their way down Gillwell
Lane, a most pleasant way, the ditches and banks gay with hedgerow flowers,
over which an abundance of early insects hovered. We noticed nothing very
rare or remarkable, but the countless blossoms and bright active insects gave
a full sense of a beautiful and bountiful spring. Mr. Paulson took great