THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
143
C.M.G., CLE., F.R.S., being in the Chair. Sixty-six members and
visitors were present.
The second Auditorship being vacant by reason of the resignation, owing
to ill-health, of Mr. Colney Campbell, the meeting elected Mr. J. Ross to
fill the vacancy, on the motion of Mr. Syms, seconded by Mr. Price, which
was carried nem. con.
Miss G. Lister exhibited, and presented to the Club's Museum, two-
masses of Woad; she also showed a pamphlet by Rendel Harris on "A
Primitive Dye-stuff," descriptive of woad and of its method of manufacture
from the cruciferous plant, Isatis tinctoria. The larger of the two masses
exhibited consisted of the leaves of the plant compressed into a compact-
mass, the smaller ball being leaves that had undergone fermentation in
water; lime has to be added before the mass will give the characteristic
blue dye. The exhibitor referred to a note in the Essex Naturalist
(vol. xvii., 1912, p. 144) by the late Miller Christy, on the former cultiva-
tion of Woad in Essex.
In connection with this exhibit, the President added many interesting
details concerning the growth of indigo, which, together with aniline dyes
produced from coal-tar, have superseded the use of Woad.
Mr. Mothersole exhibited, and presented to the Library, a copy of Moore's
"Ferns of Great Britain and Ireland" (nature printed), 1855-6, in the
original parts. He also showed, and presented to the Museum, a swallow's
nest which had been built upon a piece of tarred roofing felt hanging in a
shed at Chelmsford.
Mr. Main exhibited a living larva of the somewhat rare longicorn beetle,
Prionus coriarius, from Bocking; and gave an outline of its life-history.
Mr. Scourfield exhibited, under a microscope, living specimens of an
alga, Carteria (multifilis?), from Warner's Pond on Woodford Green,
which pond had recently been noticed to be vivid green in colour owing
to the presence of this plant.
The Curator exhibited a water-colour sketch, made in 1830, showing
Chingford Old Church before it fell into disrepair. He also showed 38
photographs of architectural details in Essex Churches, from the Club's
Pictorial Survey collection.
A further exhibit made by the Curator was a Merlin, a hen-bird which
had assumed the male plumage, from Pembrokeshire; which had been
presented in the flesh by Mr. J. H. Owen and set-up in the museum.
The President then called upon Miss G. Lister, who read a paper
entitled "Notes on Heterophylly," which she illustrated by many her-
barium-specimens and living plants. A discussion followed, in which the
President, Messrs. Paulson, Thorrington, Boyd Watt, Harley and Thomp-
son joined, and the author replied to various points raised. The thanks
of the meeting were accorded to Miss Lister for her communication.
Mr. John Salmon read a paper on "Some Aspects of Essex 100 Years Ago,"
which was illustrated by a large number of lantern-photographs. The
President voiced the thanks of the meeting to Mr. Salmon for his paper,
which were cordially endorsed by those present.