PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. ie 
_ amassed during a long series of years. A stroll through his grounds 
under umbrellas was next ventured on, and the devastation of 
the hurricane of the 3rd instant noticed, of which the most inter- 
esting object was one of an avenue of English elms about 40 feet 
high, that had been snapped off about four feet from the ground. 
On inspecting the stump it was found that, with the exception 
of an outer circle of sound wood, about an inch thick, the whole 
trunk had been by fungoid action converted into what is well 
known as “ touchwood,” thus rendering it unable to withstand 
such a gale. Further examination of the broken limbs of other 
trees in the same avenue indicated that in all probability the 
whole were more or less similarly affected, and that their total 
destruction by the fungus was a mere question of time. Whether 
this arose from some peculiarity of the soil or subsoil, there was 
no opportunity of investigating; but now that the fungi are 
ascertained to act upon living trees in a manner either unknown 
or little heeded in times past, it would not be an uninteresting 
subject for inquiry in this particular locality where their ravages 
were so well marked. 
Uudaunted by the continued rain, the party, led by Mr. 
Abbes, walked to Whitburn, and keeping the high road for some 
distance proceeded to the sea shore near Souter Point, intending 
to travel by the beach to the place of rendezvous, but the rising 
tide frustrated this object, and the wet and slippery rocks had to 
be scaled on hands and knees, and wet grass and stubble fields 
traversed ere the welcome caves of shelter were reached. Here, 
acting under the judicious advice of Dr. Embleton, means were 
taken to obviate the ill effects of so many hours spent in the wet, 
and the weary troupe being joined by a few others who had pro- 
ceeded direct to the place of meeting, sat down to an excellent 
tea. A second pilgrimage in the dark through wet fields and 
muddy lanes brought them to the Cleadon station in time for the 
7 p.m. train to Newcastle. It is unnecessary to mention that 
collecting of any kind was quite out of the question, and that the 
usual places of interest were passed almost unnoticed in the con- 
tinued and unceasing storm of wind and rain, which seemed 
a finale quite in keeping with the wretched weather that had 
