testing theories on a large scale : each member is expected to do 

 something in his own department. In our case, I hope we may 

 feel this Club has done its part. Nature herself exhibits phenomena 

 illustrative of this idea; the vegetable Idngdom, with which I claun 

 to be more familiar, perhajis as prominently as any. The prodigious 

 resiUts attained by vital actions coincident and long-sustained, man- 

 ifested in trees that excite our wonder by their bullc and solidity, 

 are the products of the minutest contributions unceasingly deposited 

 and sent downwards fiom the leaves. Again, the enormous amount 

 and exceeding variety of nutriment for man and animals, stored up 

 in. form of grains, fruits, or leaves : the supply, too, of silk and of 

 cotton, that give clothing to half the civilized world, illustrate the 

 same fact. Let these serve to remind us how essential is individual 

 labor, and how much may be done by combined energy in the 

 natural sciences. 



I am indebted to so many of our friends for aid in preparing my 

 report, that I find it difficult to make acknowledgements — yet I 

 must mention especially the assistance I had from Mr. Lightbody, 

 Mr. Salwey, Mr. Barker, Mb. Banks, and Mr. Cocking, in the 

 Geological department ; to Mr. Edmunds I owe much in the 

 Botanical section ; and to Mr. Smith for his accurate observations 

 on Meteorology, so ably drawn up. 



"We now turn to our three meetings during the year. The fii'st, 

 fixed for Tarrington, a convenient place whence to explore the 

 Woolhope Valley of elevation, came off on the second of June, and 

 as we were honored by the company of the Malvern Club, we 

 mustered much stronger than usual — breakfasted at the "Foley 

 Arms " — after Avhich we visited the mansion and gardens at Stoke 

 Edith ; Lady Emily Foley, who was from home, having kindly 

 ordered them to be thrown open for our inspection. 



We next proceeded to the " Landslip," a spot conspicuous from 

 afar to the tourist, and of great interest to the geologist. The 

 obvious cause of tliis enormous " slip," was percolation of surface 

 water : it took place suddenly some twenty years ago. The rock 



