36 THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
noon, by kind invitation of our Member, Miss E. Willmott, F.L.S., V.M.H.
The later date of the present visit gave a welcome opportunity of seeing
the Gardens in an aspect different from that enjoyed on former occasions.*
The weather, though dull and rather cold, remained dry, and allowed
the visitors to inspect their beautiful surroundings in comfort. Some
26 persons were present.
Brentwood was reached at 2.8 p.m. by fast train from London, and
the party walked to Warley, and was received by our hostess shortly
before 3 o'clock. A tour of the grounds was at once entered upon, com-
mencing with the sunken alpine-garden, beautiful as ever in its artisti-
cally natural simplicity. Unfortunately, the shortening daylight permitted
of but a small portion of Miss Willmott's charming domain being inspected.
Afternoon tea was kindly provided by our hostess (notwithstanding
Rationing Orders!), and an added delight was afforded to booklovers
of the party by her exhibition of various early 17th century illustrated
books on gardening, in elaborate original bindings. The President, in
thanking Miss Willmott for her kindly welcome on yet another occasion,
mentioned that the Club owed a further debt of gratitude to our hostess,
who had promised to present a copy of her magnificent monograph
''The Genus Rosa," to the Club's library. This announcement was
greeted with acclamation by the Members present, and a hearty vote
of thanks was passed to Miss Willmott for her repeated kindnesses. Miss
"Willmott responded, and expressed the hope that the present would
not be the last occasion on which the Club would visit her.
A sharp walk to Brentwood in the deep dusk enabled the visitors to.
catch the 0.42 train to town, after a most enjoyable afternoon.
ANNUAL FUNGUS FORAY (492nd MEETING).
SATURDAY, 19TH OCTOBER 1918.
The customary autumnal Fungus Foray of the Club was held in Epping
Forest on this date, when some 64 Members and friends attended. As
on former occasions, some Members of the Selborne Society, of the Gilbert
White Fellowship, and of the School Nature Study Union were present
as visitors, by invitation of the Club. The weather was bright and sunny,
following a night of heavy rain.
The Referees for the day were the President, Miss A. Lorrain Smith,
F.L.S., Miss E. M. Wakefield, F.L.S., Mr. F. G. Gould and Mr. Arthur
A. Pearson, F.L.S.
The route chosen was designed to cover somewhat new ground from
that traversed in former Forays. Assembling at Buckhurst Hill station
at 11.4 o'clock, the party entered Lord's Bushes and commenced to
collect, but with somewhat indifferent results as regards number of speci-
mens, although reports of a week earlier had been very favourable. One
or two heavy night frosts during the week may have had a prejudicial
effect upon the fungi. Crossing the Epping New Road, and the low-lying
grass-land of the Ching valley, the main woodlands were entered about
* Former visits were on 5th August 1911. 18th May 1912, 26th April 1913, and
6th April 1914. For a detailed description, with photographs of the Gardens see Essex
Naturalist xvii.,1912, p. 40.