29.
GRASSES AND COMMERCIAL PLANT BREEDING 21st June
An insight into the breeding of agricultural and amenity
grasses was given by Dr. Jane Hutchinson at the trial
grounds of Messrs. Hurst Gunson Cooper Taber Ltd. at
Feering. Unfortunately much of the agricultural grasses
were cut a few days previous to the meeting but we hope
that those who attended saw enough to realise that all
grass is not just the samel
We also tried to emphasize the importance of grasses by
briefly introducing the absorbing study of grassland
ecology.
Our thanks go to Dr. Hutchinson for leading the meeting
with me and "Hursts" for permission to hold the meeting
at their Trial Grounds.
Ian P. Misselbrook
BOTANY GROUP EXCURSION 29 June 1973
The meeting destined for Widdington was diverted to
Newport as it was felt that this area would prove more
interesting. A party of about 16 in number met at
Newport Station as arranged, and the morning was spent
exploring the marshes near Cucking-stool End to the West
of the town. Although not particularly wet, the marshes
are quite extensive and now mostly a mixture of rough
unmanaged pasture and poplar plantations.
This area is particularly good for willows and the
following species were seen - fragilis, viminalis,
cinerea (agg), alba, purpurea and triandra; the last
named species being easily recognised by its dark green
glossy leaves and peeling bark. In the plantation,
Black-cap, Willow-warbler and Chiff-chaff were heard and
one particularly interesting feature was the large
number of non-flowering plants of Meadow Cranesbill,
the remnants of a former meadow flora which existed
before the trees were planted.
On the edge of Chalkpit Plantation a thriving colony of
Gladdon or Stinking Iris was found with several of its