226 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
Miss Lemcke showed cultures of bacteria occurring in water, and some
excellent photo-micrographs of several species. Mr. Waller and Mr. E. Ward
commented on this interesting exhibit, the latter remarking that sulphur
bacteria were a source of trouble in the gas industry by producing hydrogen
sulphide after great trouble had been taken to remove it during purification
of the gas.
Miss Milroy showed a spray of Medlar well furnished with its attractive
fruits.
Mr. Bernard Ward showed specimens from his herbarium, of adventive
plants from shoots at Barking and Hornchurch. They comprised 30 species,
all collected during the few weeks preceding the meeting and exemplified
the large number of species being introduced to the country, some of which
would probably become naturalized. Of the species shown, Solanum
triflorum Nutt. appears to be a new county record. Solanum sarrachoides
Sendtn., a hairy plant with an accrescent calyx, was compared with fresh
specimens of S. nigrum. Artemisia verlotorum Lamotte, which has become
established in Middlesex, was compared with Artemisia vulgaris, a common
plant with which it might be confused in the field. A. vulgaris flowers from
July-September and grows to three feet in height, it has some pubescence
(which is deciduous) on the stem, has translucent main veins and has the
characteristic mugwort smell. A. verlotorum does not flower until the end
of October, rarely exceeds 18in. in height, has persistent pubescence on the
stems, all the veins are translucent and the plant has a pleasant aromatic
smell.
This exhibit was much appreciated by the members and some discussion
followed on various methods of preserving plants. The meeting was then
closed and members adjourned for the usual pleasant tea and friendly dis-
cussion in the College rooms.
Ordinary Meeting (968th Meeting).
SATURDAY, 28th NOVEMBER, 1953.
The meeting was held at 3 p.m. at West Ham College of Technology.
The chair was taken by the President, Professor C. T. Ingold, and forty
members and friends attended.
Mr. E. H. Freeman, of 69, Jubilee Avenue, Romford, was elected a junior
member of the Club,
Mr. E. P. Williams showed the Praying Mantis which he exhibited at
the October meeting. It had survived until three days before, and he
described how towards the end of its life, when it had become too feeble
to hunt its food, it had been fed with mealworms while held in the hand.
He kindly offered to supply eggs which had been laid by this insect to
those members who wished for them.
A lecture entitled "Some aspects of Agriculture in Essex" was then
given by Mr. J. G. O'Leary, Editor of The Essex Review. He dealt with
the history of agriculture in the southern part of the county, particularly
with the change from the growing of rye and beans and the grazing of
cattle and swine during the middle ages to the growing of potatoes, corn
and green vegetables in more recent times. He illustrated his conclusions
with many interesting quotations from manorial rolls and other ancient
documents.
On the conclusion of the lecture questions were asked by several members
and the lecturer was warmly thanked on behalf of the members by the
President.
Members took tea in one of the College rooms after the meeting.