114 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
day were flowing past this spot, which had diminished to some 300,000
gallons when again gauged three days before the date of the excursion.
From Wapses Lodge, the party traced the course of the bourne down
the valley through meadows and occasionally through private gardens
and football fields, to its disappearance into the public sewers at Purley.
In the meadow below the "Rose and Crown" at Riddlesdown, a strong
stream was flowing, gauged in early March at something under 12,000,000
gallons a day, but last week only some 4,000,000 gallons. This point is
always the first breaking out point of the Bourne at each of its periodic
appearances.
A visit was paid by the party to the large chalk pit opposite the "Rose
and Crown," where a grand section, 150 feet in sheer height, showed the
junction of the Upper Chalk with flints and the Middle Chalk without
flints. No fossils were observed; but several specimens were seen of
white calcined flint-nodules from the limekilns, with their surface vitrified,
which our Conductor had never noticed in any other spot.
On arrival at Purley, the party were received at, and conducted over,
the East Surrey Water Works by the resident engineer, Mr. Borer, who
showed the pumping engines and softening tanks. Mr. W. T. Burgess,
F.C.S., then explained to the visitors the method of water-softening
("Clark's Process") employed, which consists in adding more lime, in a
nearly saturated aqueous solution, to the "hard" water pumped from
the chalk wells, which already contains 14 grains of carbonate of lime to
the gallon.
Tea was taken in Purley at 5.30 o'clock, and the party caught the
6.30 train from Purley for London Bridge and Charing Cross.
VISIT TO THE ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS, KEW
(449th MEETING).
SATURDAY, 8TH MAY 1915.
The Conductors were Mr. W. Dallimore and Mr. A. D. Cotton, F.L.S,
(by kind permission of Lieut.-Colonel Sir David Prain, C.M.G., F.R.S.,
Director of the Gardens).
The party was met by Mr. Dallimore at the Victoria Gate at 2 o'clock.
The principal object of the meeting was to study the Arboretum under
the leader's guidance. Mr. Dallimore gave a most interesting and detailed
demonstration of many of the trees and shrubs, and a couple of hours
were spent in this way, the magnificent collection furnishing abundant
material for the exposition. Several of the houses were visited and the
"Rockery" was inspected. Afterwards, under Mr. Cotton's guidance,
the Museum and Herbarium were shown, and the nature of their contents
briefly explained. Very grateful votes of thanks were passed to the
Conductors.
After tea had been taken at Kew, the gardens were again entered to
inspect the wild-flower collection and rock-garden during the remainder
of the evening.