52 
On the morrow, October 2nd, when the majority of the Woolhopians had 
gone away, nothing damaged by the fungoid soups and salmis, to their own homes, 
a staunch and privileged section set out ina coach and four for Garnstone Park, 
the seat of Major Peploe, M.P. Frequent storms of driving rain were borne 
with the more equanimity by the outside passengers, because occasionally, when 
these lulled, the country to the left of the Hereford and Kington road with the 
hills that bound it came out splendidly. Mycologists, as has been earlier re- 
marked, don’t mind weather ; and the drive came to its end with a quickness 
which surprised the coach passengers, and spoke volumes tacitly for the pleasant- 
ness of the company, which consisted of Messrs. Broome, Plowright, Lees, 
Phillips, Drs. Mc.Cullough, Bull, and Chapman, Mr. Greaves, Mr. Griffiths 
Morris, the President, and one or two others. At Garnstone the party alighted 
in front of the modern castellated mansion, built by Nash, and were welcomed 
cordially by its hospitable proprietor. No time, however, was lost in beginning 
operations, though at times an umbrella or the shelter of a tree were necessities 
to the most ardent. The lawns and gardens were first inspected, with an eye 
primarily to rare funguses, but not without an interest in the Horticultural 
features which distinguish them. ‘The flower garden is effective and uncommon ; 
but the chief thing to note at Garnstone—in the lawns and outside of them—is the 
fine growth both of conifers and deciduous trees, which have evidently a very 
congenial soil and a life entirely to their mind. Visitors of abori-cultural tastes 
could not help lingering behind the foray-party to note the Piceas and Pines, 
Cedars, and Junipers of rare sorts, and speculating on the future of a thriving 
young Picea Bracteata, or admiring the grace of a Pinsapo or Nordmanniana. 
On the croquet lawn—to return to our chief quest—were found three small rings— 
and very perfect rings, too, some two feet in diameter—of Hygrophorus Russocoria- 
ceus, scenting the air with a scent as of Russia leather. Hard by them Mr. Renny 
found a fungus new to Great Britain, Ag. (tricholoma) Lixivius, a very interesting 
plant. Before quitting the lawn for the deer park the hunters came upon Clavaria 
rufa and Hygrophorus Colemannianus in abundance, and in the entrance of a small 
out-building, which need not be particularised, was pointed out a rare instance of 
Coprinus domesticus, Then the mycologists at length broke away for the hillside at 
the far end of the deer park, crossing acres of turf diversified and dotted with noble 
trees, which stand in couples, groups, belts, or quasi-avenues, with an effect that 
does great credit to those who dictated the thinning process. Scotch firs, spruces, 
elms, oaks, and chestnuts pose themselves by twos and threes, as if with a con- 
sciousness of their charm to the painter or the poet ; and it is long since we have 
seen so many or such perfect studies of tree-form, Many and curious species of 
cortinarius were met with en route to the hill, from which there was a very fine 
and panoramic view of West and North Herefordshire, and the hills that bound 
it, to say nothing of the sleepy but quaint little town of Weobley, just beyond 
Garnstone. On the frequent charcoal heaps met with in ascending the hill were 
found Ag. Carbonarius with Ag. Pyxidatus and Cantharellus radicosus ; and, when 
the ascent was made, Dr. Bull found 4g. (Entoloma) jubatus, a very rare fungus, 
first figured as a British plant in the Woolhope Transactions for 1868. 
