SELBORNE SOCIETY NOTICES 
199 
Ivy. — In Mr. Cole’s interesting article in your last number, “Nature in 
Autumn,” I find these words, “ Here is an oak throttled with ivy.’'’’ In my view a 
more common or more mischievous error than that ivy destroys or injures the tree 
against which it leans for support does not prevail. I ask any reader of Nature 
Notes, discarding prejudice, to examine and compare a dozen trees covered with 
ivy and a dozen trees of the same age without. If any difference, it will be in 
favour of the ivy-protected tree. Woodmen combine with keepers to destroy all 
that is beautiful in animate or semi-animate nature, and ruthlessly destroy it, but 
it is harmless, if not beneficial. It runs straight up, never embracing and “ chok- 
ing” the tree, as the woodbine does. The roots, not being required for support, 
run straight down, deriving no sustenance from the trunk, as is found by its decay 
at once it cut at the bottom. No doubt the ivy flourishes best on a dead or dying 
tree, but that is the effect^ light and air being admitted, not the cause. 
“ Creeping where no life has been, 
A rare old plant is the ivy green ! ” 
Nascott House, Watford. George Roofer. 
Abnormality in Typha. — Mr. A. W. Hudson, of Cranbrook, Kent, records 
several specimens of Typha au^^ustifolia, the reedmace or bulrush, with double 
spikes of lemaie flowers on the same stalk, the spikes being only slightly united at 
the base and at the top. Dr. Masters, in his “ Vegetable Teratology,” only 
records interrupted spikes in this genus, but we have, we believe, seen branched 
spikes and specimens like those described by Mr. Hudson. 
Abnormal Foxglove. — The specimen described by Mr. Martin is not at 
all uncommon. Indeed the terminal flower of any kind of spike with normally 
irregular flowers is apt to become regular, with a multiplicity of petals, &c. It 
occurs in larkspurs, aconites, horse-chestnut, &c. It may interest Mr. Martin to 
know that the late M. Henri Vilmorin succeeded in “fixing ” the monstrosity in the 
foxglove, some 90 per cent, of the seed coming true, as he informed me himself. 
George Henslow. 
SELBORNE SOCIETY NOTICES. 
Council Meetings. — The next Council meetings will be held at 20, 
Hanover Square, on Tuesdays, October 2 and 16, at 5.30 p.m. 
Increased Subscriptions. — The Council acknowledges with thanks the 
receipt of the following subscriptions : — Mrs. Philip Hensley, 7s. 6d., Miss F. 
Patteson, los., and G. B. Milne Redhead, Esq., 20s. ; also 15s. — the subscrip- 
tions of the members of the Bedhampton Branch —from the hon. Secretary, 
Captain F. H. Chippindall Healey ; and the same amount from F. W. Headley, 
Esq., on account of the new junior branch of the Selborne Society at Haileybuty' 
College, the Haileybury Natural Science Society having become affiliated to the 
Society. 
FIELD CLUB RAMBLES. 
July 28. — A beautiful afternoon and evening favoured this outing to Brox- 
bourne. The party numbered seven, including the leader, Mr. C. Nicholson, 
and a very pleasant ramble was enjoyed. The route lay through the fields 
behind Broxbourne Bury, then along the road past Hoddesdon Bury, towards 
Cowheath Wood ; thence west through one of the fine beech avenues which are 
of such frequent occurrence in this neighbourhood ; and so to the “Woodman” 
inn at Wormley West End, where tea was taken. After this a quiet stroll back 
to the station, z;/(i the Wormley road and field paths and lanes, to Broxbourne 
Church, still left time for a detour in the direction of the river. 
August II.— Under the guidance of Mrs. Percy Myles, the “ I'ield Club 
Ramblers ” had a charming walk from Uxbridge to Denham along the banks of 
the Colne and canal. The drenching rain of the early part of the week helped 
materially towards the beauty of the ramble, for all the aquatic plants were in the 
greatest profusion and beauty. The ramblers had tea at the Swan Inn at Denham, 
one of the few inns still left of the old style. A magnificent Wistaria covers the 
