244 OUR FOREST TREES IN THE FOREST MUSEUM.
two species (Quercus pedunculata and Q. sessiliflora), but no
individual trees are very remarkable for size or age, none being more
than 400 or 500 years old, if that. Those of Copt Hall are, perhaps,
the most interesting. Among groups especially deserving of study
I would mention the Elms, of which we have three or four forms,
the Poplars and the Willows. The Poplars, of which we have four
species, are at present brought prominently under our notice by the
recent rapid increase of the Aspen (Populus tremula), and with
reference to the extremely difficult critical group of Willows, of
which we have, I believe, nine arborescent species, it is to be
remembered that a former high authority, the Rev. J. E. Leefe, lived
at no great distance, viz., at Audley End. This group is better
represented by the banks of the Lea and the Roding, beyond our
limits. It is unnecessary to remind you of those chief arboreal
beauties of our Forest, the Beech (Fagus sylvatica), the Hornbeam
(Carpinus betulus), the Birch (Betula alba), and the Holly (Ilex
aquifolium). In the small Museum space at our command it is
absolutely impossible adequately to illustrate the whole of this series,
so that I think that in this matter we shall do well, keeping in mind
the educational side of our work, to attempt a little at a time, such
as a fairly complete representation at one time of the Beech and the
Hornbeam, or the two Oaks, or the four Poplars, or the Elms,
Short logs should be exhibited showing the bark and transverse,
longitudinal, and oblique sections of the wood planed and in part
polished. These must be carefully seasoned to avoid mould when
in the Museum ; but should on no account be varnished. If our
light was not so limited I would recommend the suspension of
transparent sections of the woods in the windows. These illustrate,
even to the naked eye, many interesting points of structure, such as
the difference between the spring and autumn wood in the Oak, the
uniformity of the wood of the evergreen Holly, and the wavy
annual rings of the Hornbeam. The twigs, leaves, flowers, fruit,
and seedlings can be exhibited in a dried form mounted on ordinary
Herbarium sheets. The exhibition of insect-inhabitants of the
various species in juxtaposition to the tree-specimens themselves is,
I think, a matter we should attempt.
Sections of American woods—some, prepared as lantern slides,
cut uniformly 1-400in. thick—by Mr. Romeyn Hough, of Lowville,
New York, and similar transparent sections of European woods,
"made in Germany," were exhibited.