THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 265 



The most interesting plant in this list is Euphorbia esiihi. This Euphorbia 

 was mentioned doubtfully by Mr. Newbould in Gibson's Flora of Essex as 

 ■' found by Mr. Dale in Kssex if Buddie's herbarium is sufficient authority for 

 con'iiAermg thin \.he ' tiough-fruiied Spurge' of Ray's Synopsis, p 312. Smith 

 however thought, though doubtfully, that a state of E. platyphilla was the 

 plant meant. This matter is not free from doubt, but the continental distri- 

 bution of the species renders the occurrence oi E. esnla possible." It is very 

 probable that our old naturalist Dale did actually gather the plant, for Mr. 

 Turner showed us some clumps growing in unmistakable luxuriance. Bent- 

 ham says that the E. esula is not indigenous in Britain, but had established 

 itself on the banks of the Tweed and in a few localities in Southern Scotland. 

 How the plant came into Essex also, is matter deserving enquiry. 



Poa compressa growing freely on a wall with the Purietaria was a welcome 

 sight to some of our botanists. 



At noon all the party returned to the inn where lunch was taken. Here 

 Mr. Turner exhibited fresh specimens of the handsome and rare Purple Cow- 

 wheat {Melaiiipyruni avvense) gathered a day or two before in the neighbour- 

 hood of Witham. 



Brakes were in attendance, and the party started for a five or six miles 

 drive to Tiptree Farm. The route taken was by the Maldon Road skirting 

 Wickham Bishops over Beacon and Totham Hills to Tiptree Fair Green, an 

 exceedingly pleasant drive, affording views of quiet picturesque scenery, 

 quite typical of rural Essex. The weather was fine, not too hot, nor, fortu- 

 nately for our cycling companions (two even rode down from Buckhurst 

 Hill !), were the roads so dusty as had been feared. On the way a stoppage 

 was made at Chancery Wood, wkere the party spent some time searching for 

 plants, &.C. On the way and in the wood, the following plants were 

 gathered : — 



ThaUctrum fiavum Carex pendula 



Hydrocotyle vulgaris Lotus uliginosus 



Hypericum hirsutum ,, cormculatus 



,, perforatum Galium uliginosum 



pulchrum Oxalis acetosella 



Viola caiiiiia (cleistogamous) Chrysanthemum segeLum 



Epilobium monianum Plantago coronopus 



Circaa lutetiana Filago germanica 



Many, of the commoner butterflies were observed, and the great nests or 

 ant-hills of the Wood Ant {Formica riifa) which were numerous in the wood, 

 attracted much notice. 



Continuing the drive, through a series of very pleasant lan«s, the Factory 

 of the Britannia Fruit Preserving Company at Tiptree Heath was reached at 

 about three o'clock, where a kindly and hospitable welcome was extended to 

 everyone by Mr. A. C. Wilkin, the managing director, and where they were 

 also met by Admiral Sir Wm. Luard, the Hon. C. E. Strutt, M.P., Dr. J. H. 

 Salter, and other gentlemen of the neighbourhood. A visit to a jam factory 

 may not seem to have much in common with a botanical ramble, but the 

 members of the Club, and especially the ladies, thoroughly enjoyed their tour 

 round the preserving rooms. Freshly-picked strawberries were at the time 

 being converted into jam, the boiling process, in steam jacketted pans, 

 occupying onh- about 20 minutes. An addition to the apparatus for boiling 



