•254 '^^'^ ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 



subject, and discover so much more interest in an autumnal walk tlircnii,'!! the 

 Forest, that they will insensibly drift into amateur fungus-hunters, and if here and 

 there an ambitious spirit should develop into a real Mycologist, our little efforts 

 Avill not be in vain, and we shall have our reward. 



The President returned the thanks of the meeting to Dr. Cooke for his 

 Address, and alluded to his long and valuable services in tlie cause of the study of 

 Fungi, ami to the aid Dr. Cooke had given to these annual meetings from the 

 ioundation of the Club. 



]Mr. George Massee, F. I...S., then gave a short but extremely interesting 

 Lecture, entitled " Some points in the Life-history of a Parasitic Fungus,' 

 illustrating his remarks by a series of colourel drawings from his own pencil. 

 The parasite treated of was one attacking tiie potato. 



Some little discussion followed the lecture, and the President expressed the 

 cordial thanks of the meeting to Mr. Massee and to the Referees and Conductors 

 at the meeting. 



The day was iine, but the recent rains had destroyed many fungi, and damaged 

 •others. ^Nlr. Massee reported that eailier in the autumn he had never seen fungi 

 -so plentiful in the Forest. 



THE 224th ORDINARY MEETING. 

 Satc.rdav, Octobkr 31st, 1903. 

 This, the first meeting of the winter session, was held, as usual, in the Physical 

 Lecture Theatre of the Alunicipal Technical Institute, Stratford, at 6.30 p.m., 

 Mr. F. AV. Rudler, F.G.S., President, in the chair. 



New Members. — ^Ir, Arthur T. Barnard and ^Ir. Oscar A. Steeds were 

 elected members. 



Smith Collection of Newspaper Cuttings relating to Epping Forest. — 

 The Secretary exhibited two volumes of newspaper cuttings and other papers, 

 which had been collected by the late W. G. Shakespeare Smith during the time 

 of the active work of the old " Fore.st Fund " Associatitni. Mr. Cole said that all 

 the older members of the Club Avould much regret to hear the news of ^Ir. Smith's 

 death. He and the late Sir Antonio Brady were the founders of the " Forest 

 Fund," an association which did excellent work in the pioneer skirmishes for the 

 preservation of Epping Forest, before the City Corporation entered the fight. The 

 ^' Fund's " meetings were of the greatest service to the cause of the free Forest in 

 directing attention to the sins of the enlcosers, and in educating public opinion even 

 ^fter the commencement of the memorable legal suits of the Corporation. The 

 volumes of cuttings had been given to Mr. Cole by Mrs. .Smith, knowing the 

 interest he took in the question, and Mr. Cole had much pleasure in placing the 

 volumes in the little library at the Forest Museum. 



Mr. Walter Crouch spoke of the historic value of the volumes, which contained 

 reports of meetings and newspaper articles now practically unattainable. 

 The books were unique. He propo.sed that the Club should pass a vote of 

 condolence on the death of Mr. Smith. All wIk^ knew the history of the rescue 

 of the Forest would most gratefully acknowledge the value of jNIr. Smith's 

 services. 



