NOTES ON THF. CONI'ERKNCE OK 1)EI,E(;ATES. T2I 



the natural growth of plants, mosses, etc., and we hope, for instance, 

 that Debden Slade will be allowed to re-form itself into the delightful 

 swamp of former years, fragrant with mints and gay with Lychnis and 

 Ragworts. To the Conservators we would say, keep your paths dry 

 if you wish, but pray leave us our Sphagnum bogs 1 



We also cannot agree with the assertions as to replanting parts of 

 the Forest (paragraphs 6 and 21), and the non-necessity for a nursery 

 of young trees. Dr. Schlich appears not to coincide with these 

 views of his colleagues, and' we trust that the matter will be further 

 considered. As Prof. Meldola says : ''None of us will ever live to 

 see some tracts of the Forest restored to anything like a natural con- 

 dition unless planting is resorted to." 



Taking the Report as a whole, naturalists will, we are sure, be very 

 well satisfied, and will accept it as a satisfactory answer to recent 

 criticisms on the work of the Conservators. 



AVith this document as a new^ Magna Charta of the Forest, we 

 may feel quite happy in the anticipation of living to see a restored 

 woodland, yearly becoming more natural and beautiful. Let us hope 

 also that the Report will put a stop to some of the nonsense in the 

 newspapers. One leading journal the other day, in the course of a 

 political attack on the Corporation, sneered at their work in "Epping 

 Forest, which they have so grossly mismanaged"! We should 

 recommend this writer to take a tramp this month through Lodge 

 Bushes and Theydon Thickets ; he would get rid of his attack of 

 dyspepsia, and go home with some more correct notions of the 

 character and beauty of the autumnal woodlands. 



In conclusion, we may refer to an interesting analysis of the 

 Report, communicated by Prof. Meldola to Nature, of July 5th last, 

 under the title of " The Settlement of the Epping Forest Question." 



NOTES ON THE CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES 

 OF THE CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES OF 

 THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION, OXFORD, 1894. 



LJAVING attended the Conference of Delegates at O.xtbrd as 

 Secretary of the Corresponding Societies' Committee and as 

 Delegate of the Essex Field Club, I have pleasure in forwarding for 

 The Essex Naturalist a few notes on the proceedings of the Con- 

 ference, of which Prof. R. Meldola, F.R.S., was Chairman. 



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