SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



99 



much space if fully explained here. The remarkable 

 part of this invention is that there is hardly any 

 appreciable loss in the magnifying power of the 

 lenses, through the image passing the prisms. A 

 further feature of great value is that the picture 

 resulting is truly stereoscopic, the object appearing 

 solid and alive, instead of flat and only a picture. 

 The magnifying power of this instrument is very 

 great in proportion to its size. In a trial it was 

 quite easy to see the particles of soot clinging to 

 telephone wires at 500 yards away with a bright 

 sky for background. 



The field-glasses are among the best we have met 

 with, also in consequence of the marked stereoscopic 

 effect produced on the image. The focussing of 

 the eye-pieces in both instruments is an important 



matter ; it is so arranged that each eye may be 

 separately focussed, which is important, as few 

 persons have exactly the same range of sight in 

 each eye. This is accomplished by a special out- 

 side movement, which renders almost impossible 

 for dust to enter the instrument and so obscure in 

 a measure the faces of the prisms. As both instru- 

 ments have a central movement, the eye-pieces 

 can be exactly adjusted to the distance between the 

 eyes, and can be fixed by a little mechanical 

 check. 



There are three sizes of the stereo-telescopes, the 

 three prices being £7 10s., £g and /'io 10s. The 

 field-glasses are £6, £7 and £8 per pair. The 

 London Agency is at 29, Margaret Street, Regent 

 Street, London, W. J. T. C. 



THINNING EPPING FOREST. 



TPON the invitation of the Essex Field Club, 

 we joined their visit of inspection of Epping 

 Forest on May 18th, to view what had been done 

 by the verderers in thinning 

 the trees, about which there 

 has been recently some 

 outcry in the newspapers. 

 The party numbered upwards 

 of one hundred persons, and 

 was conducted by Mr. E. N. 

 Buxton, vice-president of the 

 Society, who is also a verderer 

 appointed by the City of 

 London. The visitors were 

 driven to various parts of the 

 western side of the forest, 

 visiting Bury Wood, also 

 known as Hawk Wood, in 

 which there are, approxi- 

 mately, 2,000 oak trees, as well 

 as hornbeam aud blackthorn. 

 In this wood 300 small and 

 scrubby oaks, which were over- 

 crowding others of finer growth, 

 have been removed, and a 

 further 300 have been marked 

 for future felling. Loughton 

 Valley and Monk's Wood were 

 then reached, where extensive 

 clearances took place many 

 years ago, and the new growth 

 has now reached from ten to 

 twenty feet in height. This 

 is largely composed of birch, which looks bright 

 and elegant all the year round. After luncheon 

 the party went to Epping Thicks, where the 

 undergrowth was thinned some years since. The 

 general opinion of those present, some of whom 

 were experts in forestry from various parts of the 



Abnormal Primula. 

 Mr. Henry Ward's Specimen 



country, including Scotland, was that what had 

 been done was for the future good of the forest. 

 We certainly could not see much appreciable differ- 

 ence in Bury Wood, about 

 which so much has been said. 

 Is it possible that some of the 

 objectors to the policy of the 

 verderers are as inexperienced 

 in woodcraft as was a certain 

 Lord Mayor in times past, who 

 visited the forest in state to 

 fulfil the annual custom of 

 " hunting the hare " ? A cour- 

 tier ran up to his lord-mayor- 

 ship, who was seated on his 

 horse, waiting in one of the 

 rides, and exclaimed, " My 

 Lord Mayor, the hare cometh." 

 To which the civic magnate 

 replied, as he drew his sword, 

 " I am thankful I fear not." — 

 John T. Carrington. 



ABNORMAL 

 PRIMULA. 



T DO not know if the en- 

 closed Primula is of any 

 importance, but I have not seen 

 one before with three heads on 

 one stem, so send it you. 



Henry Ward. 

 12, Norham Gardens, Oxford; May 8tk, 1895. 

 [This specimen of white Primula has one stem 

 fasciated, but not broadly, supporting three dis- 

 tinct flowers crowded together in a bunch. The 

 remaining stems are normal, carrying one flower 

 each. — Ed. J 



