EXCURSIONS. 



Three excursions were planned for the summer of 1953, the first being to the Garden 

 House, Saltwood in May. 



Two thousand years ago beavers settled here and blocked the stream. Their work, 

 helped by Nature over centuries, built up the soil, free from chalk, which forms the lovely 

 garden in which flourish beautiful flowering shrubs. 



On Saturday, June 27th, we accepted Mr. Shannon's invitation to visit the Bird 

 Observation Station at Dungeness and en route halted at the partially restored Parish 

 Church of Lydd. The Rector, Mr, Finch, met the party and introduced Mr. Charles 

 Spon. The last named related the history of the Church and drew attention to the jam 

 jar types of windows, the 1 5th century ornaments on the Choir stalls and the Dutch brass 

 hanging lamps. 



After tea we journeyed to Dungeness, where we were welcomed by Mr. Shannon, 

 Hon. Secretary of the Kent Ornithological Society. Sunny skies of earlier hours were 

 now filled with black clouds. Mr. Nevin pointed out the number of swifts flying over 

 and when rain ceased, led some members to the traps. 



Some remained in the coaches and were cheered by the blue of the Viper's Bugloss 

 rising above the shingle. 



The last excursion was to East Mailing Research Station when trees were laden with 

 ripening apples, pears and peaches. 



This station, the home of the Twysdens until the death of the last Baronet in 1937, 

 is now the most important experimental farm in the world. 



Here research is pursued in the methods of cold storage, the growth and ripening 

 of fruit, the uses for which fruits are needed and the dealing with pests, such as the red 

 spider and the wooUey aphis. 



We were shown various apple trees and told experiments had been made on these 

 for forty years and, would probably be made for another fifteen years before satisfactory 

 results could be secured. 



Further details of each excursion could be given but space forbids. 



A. J. Wright, f.r.g.s. 



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