14
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
account of the gardens and their contents.1 Suffice it to say that this
visit to the gardens in their spring-tide glories was most thoroughly en-
joyed by all privileged to take part in the meeting.
After tea in the drawing-room and library, Miss Willmott exhibited
the parts of her magnificent book on the Genus Rosa, which is now happily
completed.
A short business Meeting (the 436th), was held, Mr. J. C. Shenstone in
the chair.
The following were elected members—
Mr. Gilbert C. Cooke, 52, Gordon Road, Wanstead.
Miss M. S. Talbot, Plashet Cottage, East Haw.
Mr. Thomas Wilson, Danbury, Essex.
A most cordial vote of thanks was accorded to Miss Willmott for
her great kindness and hospitality, and for the flood of interesting details
she had discoursed during the afternoon.
Miss Willmott expressed the pleasure she had had in welcoming the
Club, and witnessing the interest shown in her gardens.
MEETING IN THE SAFFRON WALDEN AND THAXTED
DISTRICTS (437th MEETING).
Saturday, 2nd May 1914.
(Report by Mr. George Morris, B.Sc.)
This meeting was organised by Mr. Guy Maynard, of Saffron Walden
Museum, and Mr. George Morris, B.Sc., of the Friends' School, but Mr.
Guy Maynard was unfortunately unable to be present at the excursion
itself. Other conductors were Mr. W. Whitaker, F.R.S., and Mr. Miller
Christy, F.L.S.
Mr. Thompson, one of the Hon. Secretaries, was present, but owing
to confusion of trains Mr. Cole missed the connection, much to his regret.
The London party arrived at Audley End Station by slip carriage
attached to the 8.40 express from Liverpool Street, and being met by
county members, proceeded by brakes through Saffron Walden to the
foot of Redgate Hill, passing by the way the extensive carnation nurseries
of Messrs. Engleman Bros. The production of carnation blooms by this
firm promises to render Saffron Walden as famous as did the Saffron-grow-
ing industry of mediaeval times.
At Redgate Hill a chalk-quarry was visited. Here was noted the
junction of Boulder-Clay with the Chalk. The grinding action of the
ice was illustrated by the fact that the Chalk was scooped out in basin-
like hollows filled with reconsolidated chalk-rubble, containing only
a small quantity of clay. Mr. Morris pointed out that under such con-
ditions the junction of the Chalk and Boulder-clay "Floras" was extremely
ill defined, typical chalk-plants such as Thymus serpyllum, Helianthemum
chamoecistus, etc., extending up the clay-covered slopes as long as the
chalk-rubble predominated.
1 "The Gardens of Warley Place, Brentwood," by J. C. Shenstone, F.L.S., with plates,
Essex Nat , vol. xvii., pp. 40—60.