NOTES — OKI(;iNAL AND SRLKCTEl). 137 



number of subscribers can be obtained to shield liini from severe loss. We 

 sincerel}- hope that man)- of our readers will become subscribers to these works. 



Essex Water Supply. — Dr. Thresh has issued in pamphlet form a very 

 interesting and valuable "Repoit on the Water Supplies of the various villages 

 and hamlets in the Chelmsford and IVIaldon Rural Sanitary Districts" 

 (Chelmsford, 1891), which includes details of analyses of over four hundred 

 samples of water. The pamphlet contains matter imt only of value to the 

 sanitarian, but also to geologists and ph3'sioeraphers. In view of the growing 

 importance of a good water s.upply in Essex, the following passage is alarming: 

 " Several deep wells, which formerly yielded an abundance of water, at the 

 present time only furnish a limited supply, and in others which once overflowed 

 the water does not now rise to the surface. Dr. Downes, writing to me in 

 reference to these deep wells, says, ' I have told the Essex people that they are 

 drawing upon capital in regard to their wells — drawing from the lower Tertiaries. 

 I think so, because — i, the gathering surface at the outcrop is small, and to the 

 north steeply graded ; 2, the number of bored wells has greatly increased ; 3, 

 the level of the water is falhng.' " 



MORE EPPING FOREST. 



TX the Essex Naturalist for 1889 (vol. iii. pp. 57-60) we had 

 the satisfaction of recording the inclusion of Oak Hill enclo- 

 sure into the " green lands " of the map of Epping Forest, and now 

 it is our pleasant task to chronicle a yet more important addition to 

 this grand open space. On Saturday, June 6th, 1891, a strip 

 of about 30 acres in extent, part of Higham Park, \\'altham- 

 stow, was ceremoniously made free land, and many of those who 

 have taken an active interest in the forest had the pleasure in joining 

 in the hearty cheers which greeted H.R.H. the Ranger's announce- 

 ment — " I now declare this newly acquired land and water to be 

 part and parcel of Epping Forest, and to be dedicated to the use 

 and enjoyment of the public for ever." 



Seldom has an important public improvement been carried out 

 with greater rapidity and success than this last addition to our great 

 Esse.x woodland. It was only on May 17th, 1890, at a meeting of 

 the Essex Field Club, held under the shade of the trees at Ambresbury 

 Banks, that Mr. Andrew Johnston made the first public announce- 

 ment of the proposals of Mr. E. N. Buxton and Sir T. Fowell 

 Buxton with regard to this matter, and by the middle of December 

 in the same year the matter had been practically settled. We may 

 refer our readers to Mr. Johnston's speech on the occasion alluded 



