of the limbs or centres. It has been said that 20 hogsheads of 

 perry have been made in one year from this tree. There is a 

 similar but smaller and younger tree in a meadow near, evidently 

 grafted from this one. The spreading and spiral tendency of the 

 branches is peculiar to the sort ; the rooting of prostrate branches 

 of such magnitude is perhaps without parallel in a pear tree, and 

 worthy of record. 



Our last gathering was at Shucknell Hill, Weston Beggard, 

 selected for exploring the precipitous upcast of Silurian rocks there, 

 the " Old Red " in the vale, separating it on the south east from 

 the Woolhope elevation ; the " Trap " Dyke near Hagley Park, 

 Bartestree, and the famed " Dome of Hagley," lie to the west of it. 

 The route comprising the opposite side of the valley was chosen for 

 the first meeting of the year. We commenced at Westhide, on the 

 north slope of Shucknell Hill, where we were hospitably entertained 

 at the Vicarage by the Eev. Henry Bulmer. Here a prodigious 

 elm in his lawn gave occasion for a discussion on the age of trees, 

 and their powers of repairing injuries. Much of its centre or 

 heart-wood was decayed and gone, but by extraordinary efibrts 

 masses of new wood had found their way inwards, and in a fashion 

 repaired the loss, by the formation of a spurious heart- wood. The 

 party now made its way over the Hill, visiting quarries open here 

 and there, and finally to the abrupt section that faces the south, 

 and is so conspicuous from the Tarrington road, but were not 

 successfid in obtaining new fossils. Next followed the "Trap 

 Dyke ;" here a conical jet of Toadstone was traced through the 

 Sandstone and Limestone, which latter still bears evident marks of 

 the molten mass that was forced through it. It is evident that the 

 erupted matter did not overflow, but cooled down as it reached the 

 surface ; it was noticed also, that Sandstone on either side of the 

 chasm lay horizontally, probably owing, as was suggested by Mr. 

 T. T. Davies, to the abrupt and sudden manner of its intrusion. 

 Near this is " the Dome," an upheaved mass of Downton Sandstone 

 and upper Ludlow — the scene of the discovery of the Fish bed by 



