Journal of Proceedings. cxciii
Friday and Saturday, October 15th and 16th, 1886. The
Seventh Annual Cryptogamic Meeting.
The Woolhope Club's foray at Hereford taking place this year at the
commencement of October, it was necessary, in order to secure Dr
Cooke's attendance (so indispensable on such occasions), to make our
fixture somewhat later than usual. The middle of the month was con-
sequently selected—a most unfortunate change as regards weather, the
rain falling almost incessantly throughout the two days.
The Hackney Microscopical Society was more happy in choosing a
date, and we may preface our report with Dr. Cooke's short record of
that meeting :—" Although the annual Fungus-Foray of this Society is
but a half-day excursion, it is customary for some of the most energetic
members to proceed to Epping Forest by an early train, and make
up a whole day. On Saturday, September 18th, this course was pursued ;
and although the number of excursionists was more limited than usual,
every effort was made to compensate for the remarkable dearth of fungi
by close and persistent searching. Something like sixty species were
all that could be found and recorded, and in some cases these were
represented by only a single specimen. What additions were made to
the records of the Forest fungi were in nearly every case amongst the
smaller forms, other than Hymenomycetes. Agarics were so scarce that
not a single specimen of Agaricus (Armillaria) melleus could be found,
although it is often so common as to be almost a nuisance ; and the
equally common Agaricus (Clitocybe) laccatus was represented by one
solitary specimen. None of the excursionists present could remember
any previous instance in which the Forest was so bare of fungi during
the month of September."
Our own meeting was so marred by the bad weather, that it required
all the perseverance and enthusiasm of our members to triumph over the
dismal surroundings. On the Friday, the Secretary, with Mr. English and
some local members, met Dr. Cooke and party at Chingford, and a drive
was taken under the shelter of umbrellas, occasional excursions being
made into the forest by Fairmead, High Beach, Honey Quarters, &c,
until refuge was taken in the " Wake Arms " for lunch. Then portions
of the forest near Ambresbury Camp were explored, and the outskirts of
Monks Wood visited, and so to the Head Quarters of the meeting at the
" Roebuck " at Buckhurst Hill, the collections of Fungi being by no
means despicable. A tremendous storm of wind and rain occurred
during the evening while the party was safely ensconced in the large
room of the inn, arranging the specimens for the morrow's meeting.
Saturday morning was hardly an improvement in point of weather
upon the previous day, nevertheless the various trains to Loughton
brought in contingents of members, and the total number present
during the afternoon and evening was not much below the average on