21 

 VISIT TO WYE. 



On Thursday, August lo, members ami friends 

 enjoyi'd an excui'sion (by kind invitation of tht' 

 }'rincipal) to tlu' South Eastern A^'ricultural 

 CollL'j^t*. Wye. Thi.' party numbering nearly forty 

 met at one o'clock at tlie South Eastern Kailv/ay 

 Station and joiu-neyrd to Wye, where they were 

 met by several of tlic Professors. Some of the 

 members visited tin- old Church, and the 

 remainder paid a paid a visit to tlie well-known 

 Downs. The Church of S.S. Gregory aud Martin 

 is a building in the perpemiicular style, originally 

 erected by Cardinal Kempe. when he founded his 

 college here under Henry VI. A fine monument to 

 Lady Johanna Thorn bill, dated 1 70S was partieuly 

 noticed. The party visiting the Downs was led Viy 

 Professor Salmon and others, who explained its 

 principal features. An unfortunate downpour of 

 rain rather marred the pleasure of this excursion. 

 At 5 o'clock the party met in the Kefectory of the 

 College, where tea wa,s taken provided by the 

 libei-ality of the Principal and Mrs. Dunstan, who 

 presided over the tables. Full justice was done 

 to this welcome function. At the close of the 

 repast Professor Dunstan in a few well chosen 

 words heartily welcomed the party, referring to 

 the plejisiu'e the visit gave him. He sketched a 

 short history of the more ancient portion of the 



building. It was originally built by Cardinal Arch- 

 bishop Kempe about 1470 as a college for twelve 

 priests ; the buildings were consideralily altered in 

 the 17tli century, aud then consisted of a small 

 cloistered quadrangle, formed by the refectory .the 

 library, etc. ; in 1^94 a further qiuulrangle was 

 added, containing lecture i-ooms, also a wing for 

 the kitchens, servants' rooms, etc. ; in 1900 f ui-ther 

 additions v/ere made, and another quadrangle 

 containing the new chemical Liboratories. In 

 conclusion, the Principal hoped that the visit of 

 this Society might be an annual one (applause). 

 Mr. Sidney Harvey, on behalf of the visitors, 

 thanked Professor and Mrs. Dunstan for the 

 hospitality shewn them, and assiu-ed them 

 how heartily they had all enjoyed their 

 visit that day. and he was sure they all felt it 

 was one of the mo^t enjoyable of this summer's 

 excursions. The party then, under the guidance 

 of the Principal, Professor Salmon, Professor 

 Parkinson, Professor Theobald, and Professor 

 Wailes, visited the buildings, the laboratory, the 

 museum, and other portions of the building, not 

 forgetting the new botanic garden. After again 

 thanking Professor and Mrs. Dunstan for their 

 kindness, the party proceeded to the station and 

 returned home to Canterbury. 



REPORT FOR THE 50th YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1907. 



During the past year the Society has lost by removals, resignations, or deaths 5 members, 3 

 new members have joined, and the total number now is sii, composed of S corresponding members, 

 11 honorary members, 14 associates and oJi ordinary members. 



The two members lost by death are Dr. Netherclift and Dr. Maxwell T. Masters. Dr. Netherclift 

 was for some years a member of the Committee, and he was a fairly regular attendant at the evening 

 meetings, where his genial manners and eloquent powers of expression lent much charm to the dis- 

 cussions. 



The Society has sustained a gi-eat loss by the death of one of its coiTesponding members, the late 

 Dr. Maxwell Tylden Masters, F.It.S.. who died on May .'Joth last. For 45 years he was editor of the 

 Oanievers' Chmtiirl,', and during the whole of that period he was a valued friend and adviser to our 

 Society. Dr. Masters wa.s the youngest son of the late Alderman Masters, and was bom in Canterbui-y 

 in 1H33. He was the author of numerous botanical works, and his valuable "British Herbarium" has been 

 presented to the Library by hie widow, a gift which is much appreciated and it is hoped will prove 

 of much use to our mi*niliers. Tin- cabinet, containing this almost complete collection of -British 

 plants has been placerl in the Reference Library of the Beaney Institute, aiid is available for reference 

 etc.. by members. 



A short account of the evening meetings and of the papers is given in the preceding part of the 

 transactions. The attendance, except at one or two of the meetings, was not such as to give encourage- 

 ment to those members who had given their time to the j reparation of lectures or papers, and it is 

 a cause of much regret to the Committee that the interest in these meetings is not greater. 



One of the meetings was held in the Guildhall, and there was a crowded audience to listen to 

 the lecture by his Worship the Mayor on " Ciesar's Invasion of Kent." The incidents in the early 

 history of this south-eastern corner of England were put for-'ard in a graphic and original manner, 

 and tlie lecture contained so much of controversial matter that it afforded much for discussion at the 

 following meeting of the Society. 



The Congress of the South-East<?rn Union of Scientific Societies was held this year at Woolwich, 

 but our usual delegate was not able to attend and no other memlxr could take his place. 



The chief excursion cf the summer was to Wye College on the kind invitation of the Principal. 

 Some forty memliers joined the party, and all were most hospitably treated by t he Principal and Mr^. 

 Dunstan. The afternoon was spent inexploriiigtheDowns, and in visiting the Experimental Farm and 

 Botanical gardens belonging to the College. TV-a was served in the beautiful Kefectorv. and after tea 



