THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
403
A long and delightful drive by Bulford Mill and Cressing to Stisted
followed, and the party was most cordially welcomed by the Mayor of
Colchester (Alderman J. N. Paxman), at his beautiful domain, Stisted
Hall, which was thus described on the programme for the day: —" Stisted
Hall, built in 1826. is a noble mansion of white brick, with an Ionic portico,
standing in a park of 130 acres. From the elevation of the site it commands
fine woodland scenery, and in the park are some grand oaks. One described by
Mr. Shenstone in his paper on ' The Oak. Tree in Essex,' (E. N., vol. viii.) has
boughs extending 99 feet; a tree which, in Mr. Shenstone's opinion, is
destined in future years to be one of the most remarkable oaks in the county.
In the grounds are some ancient and interesting fish-ponds." The members
walked round the beautiful gardens, which were in the prime of summer
beauty, and the tulip trees in bloom, a standard magnolia, and the
magnificent cedar trees were particularly admired. Mr. Paxman subse-
quently entertained his guests in most hospitable fashion, high tea being
served in a marquee on the lawn, the Mayoress of Colchester (Mrs. William
Paxman) also being present to welcome the party.
A Meeting was subsequently held in the Marquee, Mr. D. Howard in
the chair. A cordial vote of thanks was passed to the Mayor for his kind-
ness and hospitality on the proposal of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. J. C.
Shenstone.
In replying, His Worship expressed the pleasure it had given him to
know that that was the occasion of a union between the societies of the
counties of Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk, and hoped it would be found for
their mutual benefit and profit.
Mr. Shenstone exhibited living specimens of some interesting plants
gathered a few days before in a locality not far from Chelmsford. Amongst
them, the peculiarly Essex plant, Lathyrus tuberosus, attracted much
attention, and Mr. Shenstone reported that it was still fairly abundant. He
had also brought specimens of Bupleurum rotundifolium, Lathyrus aphaca and
Galium tricorne and other notable plants.
Mr. Shenstone stated that he had recently been giving attention to
photographing living specimens of British Wild-flowers. He considered
that photography was capable of a much wider application to their work
by naturalists than was generally attempted. Although the illustrations
usually given in floras serve for identification purposes, they often give a
very poor idea of the natural habits and luxuriance of the living plants.
Mr. Shenstone showed a small series of very fine photographs (part of a
collection of many hundreds) to prove his contention that when carefully
done, the photograph preserves the natural appearances of the plants in a
most valuable and instructive way for reference and study, and he thought
that the method might be adopted for book illustration.
Prof. Boulger, F.L.S., F.G.S., followed by an elaborate paper ou "Ray's
Contemporaries in Biology." In a masterly manner he sketched the stand-
points of those naturalists who early made some attempt at classification,
pleaded for due allowance to be made tor the influence of Lord Bacon on
scientific method, and awarded Kay a high position because he not only
seized on what was most germane in the work of those who immediately
preceded, or who were contemporary with him, but went beyond them in the
recognition of sex in plants.