SESSiox 1896-97. Ixxi 



only one in Europe. The Orchids also were inspected and much 

 admired, some specimens being very fine. The Saracenias and 

 Insectivorous plants then came in for a share of attention. 



The Tropical Economic House, with its tea, cocoa, pepper, all- 

 spice, and other plants producing food, caused much interest ; and 

 in the " Greenhouse " many pretty flowers, the hybrids from 

 Cineraria cruenta and the Himalayan rhododendrons, were noticed. 



The beautiful collection of paintings from all parts of the world 

 made by the late Miss M. North and bequeathed by her to Kew 

 Gardens, now forming the "North" Gallery, was next inspected. 

 The Succulent House, with its very curious occupants, was also 

 visited. In. the Palm House some fruiting bananas were pointed 

 out, but the bunches were not well set. The Temperate House, 

 also, was inspected. Tea was then partaken of at the Refreshment 

 Rooms near. 



The Azalea and Rhododendron Gardens were then visited. The 

 variety of colour of the azalea, and the charm of evergreen foliage 

 combined with the gorgeous colouring of the flowers of the rhodo- 

 dendron, should lead these plants to be more frequently cultivated 

 than they are now. It has been pointed out that they can be 

 grown in good turfy loam without the aid of peat. 



It was somewhat late for the daffodils, scillas, tulips, and other 

 flowers planted in the grass, but enough was left to show how 

 beautiful this so-called "naturalization" of bulbs can be made by 

 judicious planting, the display being commenced by the winter 

 aconite in January, and continued by the various narcissi, scillas, 

 tulips, etc., well into June. A meadow which has to be mown 

 might be made beautiful until the scythe, and no perceptible 

 damage would be done to the hay. 



The meeting was under the direction of Mr. Daniel Hill, the 

 Society's Librarian, to whom the Editor is indebted for this report. 



Field Meetixg, 12th June, 1897. 

 SOPWELL, ST. ALBANS. 



Just before St. Albans is reached from London by the Midland 

 Railway, there may be seen between the line and the River Ver 

 a number of pits of sand and gravel extending over a considerable 

 area. Near the river the gravel has evidently been worked for 

 a long time, but the pits on the higher ground near the line have 

 only recently been opened. The pits are on the Sopwell estate 

 belonging to the Earl of Verulam, and it was the principal object 

 of this meeting to examine them by his invitation. It was 

 thoiight, however, that it would be well to first see something 

 more of the Ver and its valley, and Bricket Wood Station was 

 selected as the starting-point. 



The meeting was under the direction of the President of the 

 Society, Mr. W. Whitaker, F.R.S., and Mr. Hopkinson. At 



