31 



take a preference to a chalky soil, and it would 

 be well for fern growers to bear this in mind 

 in forming their ferneries, this plant being a great 

 ornament when grown well. After an examination 

 of this curious Church the party returned to Asliford: 

 It would be impossible and useless to innumerate all the 

 plants found in this botanical expedition, but it is quite 

 evident that this neighbourhood yields a large flora of chalk 

 plants, and had the meeting been held here at an earlier 

 period of the year we doubt not but that many of the 

 Orchideoe would have been found, and this deligbtful spot 

 migbt well be made the starting point for another botanical 

 excursion in this neighbourhood. "We learned from Mr. 

 Eussell that many a prize might here be obtained by the 

 young entomologist, but the advanced period of the year 

 was not favourable for botanical or entomological specimens, 

 no rarities were found, but there was abundance of interest 

 to the excursionists, who returned well pleased with their 

 successful expedition. 



After partaking of a lunch at tbe " Saracen's Head," the 

 party adjourned to tbe Public Eooms, which were well 

 filled, this being by far the largest meeting the society has 

 held this year. 



The " public room " in which the collection was dis- 

 played, presented at once an imposing and pleasing ap- 

 pearance, the taste displayed in the arrangement being in 

 keeping with the great variety and interesting nature of 

 the specimens generously placed at the disposal of the com- 

 mittee. It is a matter of regret that a complete list was 

 not prepared of either the exhibitors or their contributions. 

 Among the more prominent features of the exhibition was 

 a collection of ferns, British and Foreign, lent by Miss M. 

 H. Furley, of Ashford, and Mrs. Gardner, of Willcsborough 

 the latter lady being also a contributor of a number of rare 

 and curious flowers and plants. There was a splendid col- 

 lection of butterflies. The chief exhibitors of these were 

 Mr. A Russell, of Ashford, who had IG cases, each con- 



