SESSION 1899-1900. Ixxi 



extinct ilora. Tlie Suceuli'iit House was ucxt visited, and then 

 the large Greenhouse. Its many beautiful plants were in bloom, 

 a groat feature at Kew being the employment of autumn-sown 

 hardy and half-liardy annuals for the decoratiou of this house in 

 Spring, a practice which miglit, Mr. Hill thought, be copied 

 in many smaller establishments. The house was gay with 

 iSchiza)it/ius and the new decorative varieties of Cineraria crumta. 



Passing on into the Victoria Rcgia House, it was found tliat the 

 plant was growing very vigorously but was not yet in bloom, and 

 Mr. Hill said that lie believed that it was not generally known 

 that this huge water-lily was cultivated at Kew as an annual, the 

 seed being sown every year. 



Attention was next directed to the fine plant of Lodiocea 

 sei/cJu'/h'iisis, the " Coco-de-mer " or double cocoa-nut, raised in the 

 gardens some years ago from the nut of which the shell is still 

 adhering to the plant. It is believed to be the only living plant in 

 Europe, this palm being peculiar to the Seychelles Islands and only 

 known in three of them. 



A fter visiting the Orchid Houses the party walked through the 

 Eock Garden, in the nooks and crannies of which many beautiful 

 little plants were pointed out ; and then, crossing the gardens, - 

 the Rhododendron Dell was entered, and was found to be in full 

 beauty, presenting a magnificent spectacle. In the Azalea Garden 

 the flowers were not fully out, but the blaze of almost every shade 

 of colour, from white and yellow to red, was superb. The Bamboo 

 Garden appeared to have suffered more than usual from the cutting 

 Winter winds. 



After visiting the Palm House, where a banana was seen in 

 flower, tea was partaken of, after which the Temperate House and 

 the " Xorth " Gallery were visited, but it was just upon closing 

 time for this, and the marvellous collection of paintings made by 

 Miss North in all parts of the world, and most generously presented 

 by her to Kew Gardens, could only be glanced through. 



Field Meeting, 2nd June, 1900. 

 ST. ALBANS. 



A walk of considerable archaeological interest and a visit to the 

 new County Museum brought together a rather small party at the 

 place of meeting, St. Stephen's Church. 



;Mr. A. E. Gibbs acted as Director, and under his guidance the 

 members walked by King Hariy Lane to the Verulam Woods, 

 where the path was taken which leads to St. Albans between the 

 fosse and the south-eastern portion of the ruined wall of ancient 

 Verulamium. and thence over the "Causeway," where it was left 

 for the " Waterwalk," which follows the course of the Ver to 

 St. Michael's Bridge. The narrow lane up the valley to Beech 

 Bottom was then taken, and after inspecting this ancient British 

 earthwork the members returned to St. Albans across Bernard's 



