of the river and its principal tributaries ; aud Mr. Bates gave a 

 graphic description of the luxurious forest growth that clothes 

 the valley on each side, with a sketch of the chief animals and 

 insects. On this occasion your Committee issued a number of 

 free admission tickets, and the large room was well filled, more 

 than three hundred being present ; and the lecture was listened 

 to with marked attention and pleasure throughout. The ex- 

 periment of issuing a general invitation did not however produce 

 results to induce your Committee to repeat it. 



The first excursion of the year took place on the 31st of 

 May, to Chilham and thence to Shottenden Wood. In spite 

 of a threatening morning about 45 members and friends as- 

 sembled at the Beeches at Shottenden at luncheon, and a 

 goodly collection of Flowers and Ferns were exhibited. The 

 President then gave a short Lecture on the formation and 

 changes in Insects, which was interrupted by a heavy fall of 

 rain, compelling the party to hasten their return home. 



On the 28th of June the President invited the members 

 to an extra general meeting at Fordwich House, where fifty- 

 six members and about thirty visitors availed themselves of 

 his kind invitation and assembled in a marquee on the lawn. 



The President opened the proceedings by a short lecture 

 on the rose — its cultivation, history, and uses, which was 

 illustrated by some beautiful specimens of the finer or rarer 

 varieties both cut and growing in the garden. Budding and 

 grafting were performed by Mr. Kennett, for the instruction 

 of the members ; and the President concluded a very inter- 

 esting address by briefly sketching the history of the rose 

 farms of the east and the manufacture of otto of roses. 



Mr. Dowker then explained, with the help of some clearly 

 drawn diagrams, the principles and construction of the micros- 

 cope, both simple and compound ; after which, the company 



