163 



settled Ob the green stems of the plants. The box also contained two speci- 

 mens of the biidsnest orchis, Ncottia nidus avis, several flower spikes of the 

 tway blade Listera ovata, and of the green winged meadow orchis, the Orchis 

 morio. 



The President then called upon the Hon. Secretary, the Rev. Geo. H. 

 Cornewall, to introduce the subject of "The more remarkable trees of 

 Herefordshire," — adding at the same time that it was evident his own paper 

 on "Wandering Plants" must wander on still to another meeting. 



The Rev. George H. Cornewall then said that he had not brought 

 any written paper on Herefordshire trees. The members had already received 

 a printed notice on the subject, and it seemed to him most desirable that 

 the members should unite their efforts to obtain an exact account of our 

 remarkable trees. It was a very extensive subject, and no one member could 

 hope to carry it out in any reasonable time without the assistance of others. 

 He thought it would be better if different members of the club would take 

 up a different kind of tree, so that the descriptions received might at once be 

 sent to the proper quarters. The President had kindly undertaken the elm 

 and sweet-chesnut, and the Rev. Thomas Woodhouse had chosen the yew 

 tree, the oak had fallen to himself, and he should be very glad if any other of 

 our members would take any of the other trees and let him know. He thought 

 a most interesting record might be thus obtained, and that it was the peculiar 

 province of the Woolhope Club to obtain it. 



The President then said that his friend Mr. Edwin Lees, of Worcester, 

 had in the course of his researches collected more particulars as to curious 

 Herefordshire trees than perhaps any other person. As he was present among 

 them, they would be doubtless pleased to hear any remarks he would favour 

 them with. 



Mr. Lees then said that, in making preparation for a work on old trees 

 some years since, he had met with several curious veterans in Herefordshire, 

 of which he had taken portraitures. He then exhibited drawings of a yew tree 

 in Cradley churchyard, a most remarkable hollow one in Much Blarcle church- 

 yard, and a magnificent ash gro\ving, when the sketch was taken, at Hope 

 End, near Ledbury. Views of some fine oak and other trees were also shown, 

 and remarks made, on trees as objects of scientific study and artistic beauty. 

 Too many landscape painters had made conventional trees in their studios, 

 which might be trees to the artist, but not any one in particular to the 

 naturalist ; but it was important that the physiognomy of vegetation should 

 be studied correctly. With regard to the age of the trees, the yew as most 

 enduring deserved particular attention, and many yews now stood alive 

 that had commenced their existence before the Norman conquest. This was 

 doubtless the case with the Cradley yews, and the massive one at Much Marcle. 

 The rings of annual growth were good evidence in the case of the yew 

 when attainable, and he had in his possession the section of a branch of 

 yew, which within a diameter of only nine inches, had 22f rings of annual 

 growth fully discernible. The connection of the yew-tree with the church was 



