THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 265
The most interesting plant in this list is Euphorbia esula. This Euphorbia
was mentioned doubtfully by Mr. Newbould in Gibson's Flora of Essex as
"found by Mr. Dale in Essex if Buddie's herbarium is sufficient authority for
considering this the 'Hough-fruited Spurge' of Ray's Synopsis, p. 312. Smith
however thought, though doubtfully, that a state of E. platyphylla was the
plant meant. This matter is not free from doubt, but the continental distri-
bution of the species renders the occurrence of E. esula possible." It is very
probable that our old naturalist Dale did actually gather the plant, for Mr.
Turner showed us some clumps growing in unmistakable luxuriance. Bent-
ham says that the E. esula is not indigenous in Britain, but had established
itself on the banks of the Tweed and in a few localities in Southern Scotland.
How the plant came into Essex also, is matter deserving enquiry.
Poa compressa growing freely on a wall with the Parietaria was a welcome
sight to some of our botanists.
At noon all the party returned to the inn where lunch was taken. Here
Mr. Turner exhibited fresh specimens of the handsome and rare Purple Cow-
wheat (Melampyrum arvense) gathered a day or two before in the neighbour-
hood of Witham.
Brakes were in attendance, and the party started for a five or six miles
drive to Tiptree Farm. The route taken was by the Maldon Road skirting
Wickham Bishops over Beacon and Totham Hills to Tiptree Fair Green, an
exceedingly pleasant drive, affording views of quiet picturesque scenery,
quite typical of rural Essex. The weather was fine, not too hot, nor. fortu-
nately for our cycling companions (two even rode down from Buckhurst
Hill!), were the roads so dusty as had been feared. On the way a stoppage
was made at Chancery Wood, where the party spent some time searching for
plants, &c. On the way and in the wood, the following plants were
gathered :—
Thalictrum flavum Carex pendula
Hydrocotyle vulgaris Lotus uliginosus
Hypericum hirsutum ,, corniculatus
,, perforatum Galium uliginosum
pulchrum Oxalis acetosella
Viola canina (cleistogamous) Chrysanthemum segetum
Epilobium montanum Plantago coronopus
Circaea lutetiana Filago germanica
Many of the commoner butterflies were observed, and the great nests or
ant-hills of the Wood Ant (Formica rufa) which were numerous in the wood,
attracted much notice.
Continuing the drive, through a series of very pleasant lanes, the Factory
of the Britannia Fruit Preserving Company at Tiptree Heath was reached at
about three o'clock, where a kindly and hospitable welcome was extended to
everyone by Mr. A. C. Wilkin, the managing director, and where they were
also met by Admiral Sir Wm. Luard, the Hon. C. E. Strutt, M.P., Dr. J. H.
Salter, and other gentlemen of the neighbourhood. A visit to a jam factory
may not seem to have much in common with a botanical ramble, but the
members of the Club, and especially the ladies, thoroughly enjoyed their tour
round the preserving rooms. Freshly-picked strawberries were at the time
being converted into jam, the boiling process, in steam jacketted pans,
occupying only about 20 minutes. An addition to the apparatus for boiling