20 PROCEEDINGS COTTESWOLD CLUB 191 2 



Mr Richardson briefly explained how the teachers of the Public Elementary 

 Schools visit the gardens on Saturday mornings for the purpose of acquiring 

 knowledge in horticulture. This formed a suitable basis for class-work, 

 garden instruction being correlated with other subjects in the school 

 curriculum. 



In the absence of the county horticultural instructor, a member of the 

 garden staff acted as guide to the visitors, and drew attention to unpruned 

 trees, and contrasted them with others treated on scientific lines. Interest 

 was also displayed in the numerous braziers or heaters used to protect the 

 trees from frost. These are of two shapes, conical and round, the former 

 being charged with 2olbs. of coal, and the latter with 15 lbs. For effective 

 purposes 60 fires are required to the acre. The method of lighting was 

 explained, and testimony was forthcoming as to the benefit derived during 

 the critical stages of inflorescence and fruiting. 



Leaving the gardens, seats were taken in a motor bus, and a pleasant ride 

 was enjoyed to Holt Fleet, on the Severn, a distance of six miles (Plate I.). In 

 this way, as Mr Richardson explained, the Members were able to obtain some 

 idea of rural Worcestershire, and at the same time inspect a particularly 

 picturesque reach of the river which is so prominent a physical feature 

 further south in Gloucestershire. The ride lay through the villages of Hadley 

 and Ombersley, several country seats being passed en route, and not a few 

 of the white and black houses already referred to. Mr Richardson briefly 

 dealt with the geology of the district. 



Returning to Droitwich, the party sat down to lunch at the Raven 

 Hotel. Mr W. R. Carles presided, and in sympathetic terms referred to the 

 absence of the Rev. W. Butt, the President of the Club, who had written 

 asking to be excused from attending the meeting in consequence of the death 

 of his daughter. Mr Carles said he knew those present would like to join 

 him in an expression of sympathy to their President, and to assure him that 

 all would wish to lighten his duties in connection with the Club during the 

 coming months. The next field meeting was to have been in the neighbour- 

 hood of Chepstow, and Mr Butt had kindly invited the Club to enjoy his 

 hospitality at Oakwood. In consequence of the President's sad bereavement, 

 however, this anticipated pleasure would be postponed. 



Mr Richardson had received letters from Canon Bazeley and Dr Callaway, 

 acknowledging in appreciative terms the invitation of the Club that they 

 should allow themselves to be elected Honorary Members, and expressing 

 gratitude for what both gentlemen regarded as a mark of distinction. 

 Reference was also made to the work of investigation recently carried out by 

 Mr A. E. W. Paine in a cave at Symonds Yat, and the decision arrived at by 

 a sub-committee of the .Vrchaeological Society and the Cotteswold Club, that 

 Mr Paine's research should be followed uj) by further excavations. The 

 Bristol and Gloucestershire Society had already contributed two guineas to- 

 wards this object, and on the proposition of Mr Carles it was agreed to 

 furnish a like sum from the funds of the Club. Many human bones have 

 been found in the cave, and in the opinion of expert archajologists the time 

 is ripe for extending the investigations which from time to time have taken 

 place on the banks of the Wye. [W.T.] 



After lunch the St. Andrew's Baths were visited. Thence the Members 

 walked to the Station, catching the 2.36 p.m. train for Stoke Works, the 

 property of the Salt Union, Ltd. Here the party was divided into two sec- 

 tions, and courteously conducted round the Works by two officials. 



First, the deep well pumps and engines were inspected, of which there 

 are three sets. The wells are about 220 feet deep and have a bore-hole 

 extending from the bottom for about another 100 feet, making a total depth 

 of about 320 feet, which is the limit of the present borings. 



