88 
Drive By CADNAM TO SOUTHAMPTON. 
After a short rest the company were on the move again towards 
Stoney Cross, where the carriages were waiting. Here Mr Lascelles 
bade good-bye to the Excursionists, and a hearty cheer was raised 
as he departed on his way to Lyndhurst. Seats were immedi- 
ately taken, and the party drove off, taking the road by Cadnam 
for Southampton. The views as we passed Malwood and descended 
the hill were as rich and varied as any that had been seen, and all 
the way to Cadnam the Forest landscape was of the same charming 
character as that we had been travelling through for the past two 
days. We left the New Forest at Cadnam, a quiet rural village, 
noted for its famous oak, which is said to put forth its buds into 
leaf on Christmas Eve, like the celebrated Holy Thorn of Glaston- 
bury, in Somersetshire. It was seen growing on a small bit of 
Forest land on our left as we drove through the village, but at this 
season of the year it presented no feature to specially distinguish 
it from any other moderately-sized oak tree. From here the route 
lay through several rustic villages and a pretty and well-wooded 
country, where the oaks overhanging the road were heavily laden 
with acorns. We arrived at the headquarters in Southampton 
before 6 o’clock, which finished our most delightful and instructive 
visit to the New Forest. Shortly after 7 o’clock a special train 
conveyed the party to London, where headquarters were established 
at the Grosvenor Hotel, Pimlico, for the next three days. 
SIXTH DAY. 
Saturday, 12th August. 
THE ROYAL GARDENS, KEW. 
On Saturday morning the members started from the Victoria 
Station, adjoining the Grosvenor Hotel, by train for Kew Gardens 
Station, where they arrived at 9.19 a.m. After the hard work of 
the four previous days, the quietude of the Royal Botanic Gardens 
at Kew, and the leisurely way in which we were allowed to inspect 
them, came as a welcome relief. By special arrangement the party, 
