Wnnlljope Haturdtsts' Jfulti Club. 



June 25th, 1886. 



"Proud of that long array of Church and tower 

 Raglan may claim a rude pre-eminence." 



Archccolor/ia Camhrensis. 



This, the second Field Day of this year, was the Ladies' Day, the programme of 

 which was to visit Raglan Castle, proceeding by Ross and Monmouth, and 

 returning by l/sk, Pontypool Road, and Abergavenny. Leaving Hereford at 

 9.45, the members arrived at Ross at 10.15, where the interval of one hour and a 

 half until the departure of the train via Monmouth was most pleasantly and 

 appropriately occupied in visiting, by invitation, the botanical grounds of Mr. 

 Henry Southall, at his residence, the Graig, Ashfield, distant six -sevenths of a 

 mile from the railway station. The contrast between the dusty, hot road and the 

 intermixture of delicious hues here displayed, with a fountain as a central coup 

 d'ceil was refreshing, as they greeted the eyes immediately upon entrance. Here 

 vcere hardy perennials most charmingly grouped : the brilliancy and varieties of 

 colour exhibited by the many species of Aconitum, Delphinium, Campanula, 

 Pyrethrum, Potentilla, Myosotis, Polemonium cceruleum, Veronica rupestris, and 

 many others, Linum arborcum, Papaver pilosum and Ambroseum, Onosma 

 taurium, Senecio doronieum and other varieties, Lacluca sonchifolia, and a 

 charming bed of Tropceolum polyphyllum presented to the eyes a continual feast. 

 Rock roses and geraniums were there, Genista sagitifolia, a vigorous Hcraclcum 

 gir/anteum, a Judas tree ( Ceris siliqiiastrum), a fine shrub of Polygonum in 

 handsome foliage at the entrance to the garden ; whilst from the artistically 

 constructed rockwork of conglomerate budded forth varieties of Saxifrage, Sedum 

 (amongst which Sedum Kamschatkanum must be mentioned), the charming Orchid 

 Lady's-slipper ( Cypripedium spcctabile) in vigorous healthy bloom at the water's 

 edge, occasionally receiving spray from the fountain in which it so delights. Next 

 to a handsome specimen of Orchis maculata was a butterfly orchis ( Hahenaria 

 bifolia), and a bee orchis (Ophrys apifera). The fernery contained fine plants of 

 Osmunda regalis, a small plantation of the oak fern ( Polypodiuin dryopterisj. 

 The Limestone (Polypodiuin caleareum) and the Beech fern ( Polypodium phe- 

 gopteris) were growing side by side ; the Holly fern (Polystichum lonchitis), the 

 Marsh fern (Lastrea thelipteris), the Bladder fern (Gystopteris fragilis), var. 

 Dickieana, Asplenium trichomanes, Black Spleenwort (Asplcniuia adiantum 

 nigrum), sometimes called Black Maidenhair, and often erroneously the Parsley 

 fern. Many members would have enjoyed to spend the day here, but before they 

 had time to complete their survey, were reminded that there was another garden 



