48 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
Libraries. Contributions by members have been supplemented by notes by
other keen observers in various parts of the county and these have greatly
assisted the editor towards his desire to present an adequate record of the
natural history of Essex.
Heavy increases in the cost of production give rise to some anxiety, but our
efforts to prevent The Essex Naturalist suffering on this account are being ably
and sympathetically assisted by our printers, Messrs. Benham and Co. Ltd.,
of Colchester.
The last report mentioned the progress that had been made in recording in
an interleaved copy of Druce's Comital Flora of the British Isles the flora of
the county of Essex as observed by members of the Club or extracted from
The Essex Naturalist or other sources of information in the Club's possession.
Mr. Howard now reports that just over 1000 species, native and alien, have
been noted in the Comital Flora to date, entailing the making of more than
4500 entries. The work is continuing.
Our Honorary Librarian, Mr. C. Hall Crouch, reports that the library was
not so well used in 1951 as in 1950. The number of books and pamphlets
borrowed to the end of November was 129 as compared with 139 in 1950 and
95 in 1949. Accessions, except for the usual number of books received in
exchange, have been few. Members are asked when they return borrowed
books to see that the date is entered in the appropriate column in the Bor-
rowing Book for it is found that books have been replaced in the cases with-
out noting that they have been returned.
Mention must be made of the valuable work being undertaken under the
direction of Mr. W. B. Broughton in the survey of the ponds of Epping
Forest. It is being made at the desire of the Epping Forest Committee and
a preliminary report on the progress of the work will be found elsewhere in
this issue. Three interim reports which were urgently required by the Conser-
vators have been submitted. These related to Baldwins, Goldings Hill (North)
and Rising Sun Ponds. The clearing of Baldwins Pond has been carried out
during the autumn of this year and the advice offered by the Club has been
given due consideration by the Conservators.
In August the Essex County Council suggested that the Club "might care to
give their recommendations as to areas which they consider would be suitable
as nature reserves from a botanical and entomological aspect". A sub-com-
mittee consisting of Messrs. Pratt, B. T. Ward, R. Ward, and E. F. Williams
discussed the matter and submitted a list of such areas to the County Council.
It was gratifying to have the opportunity of seeing the lists prepared by the
Nature Conservancy and by the London Natural History Society and the sub-
committee was able to endorse and add to recommendations made by those
bodies.
The Council regrets to report the deaths of four members of the Club during
the year: Dr. T. C. Baillie, who became a member in 1920; Mrs. F. Glegg,
elected in 1926; Mr. F. W. Reader, one of our senior members, elected in
1898; and Mrs. D. J. Scourfield, elected in 1912.
Since the compilation of the last list of members on 24 February 1951,
twenty-three new members have been elected and three members have re-
signed. The number of members at the end of December 1951 was 248, a net
increase of twenty-eight during the year.
REPORTS OF MEETINGS
Ordinary Meeting (930th Meeting)
SATURDAY, 27 JANUARY 1951
This meeting was held at the West Ham Municipal College with the Presi-
dent, Mr. Laurence S. Harley, in the chair. Forty-six members and friends
attended.