122 
NATURE NOTES 
park, but free to roam unmolested. The route taken on July 9, 
through Hayes and Keston Commons, in most lovely weather, was 
full of interest to all naturalists, but perhaps the botanists enjoyed 
themselves most. Keston Common was in its full glory of bracken, 
interspersed with fine clusters of heaths, the common ling or heather 
scarcely yet showing its blossoms. On this occasion the party also 
visited Caesar’s Camp and the picturesque lakes in the neighbourhood, 
pushing on as far as the famous “ Wilberforce Seat,” where the great 
question of slave emancipation is said to have been discussed and decided 
upon by Pitt and Wilberforce. A ramble from Pinner, through Eastcote 
to Ruislip, gave an afternoon’s real enjoyment to a large party on July 
i6th. It is the varied and picturesque scenery that gives such a charm 
to the walks in this neighbourhood, and if few tangible spoils were the 
result of the excursion, the visitors brought away with them what are 
more durable, and yet do not mar the pleasure of subsequent ramblers — 
lasting memories of the beauties of living nature. The guide who arranged 
the interesting walk on August 6 is to be congratulated on discovering 
new routes through a well-known district. Loughton Station was the 
starting-point, and various footpaths were utilised in the ramble through 
Chigwell to Chigwell Lane. At the former place the party went over the 
church, and especially noted the fine brass erected to Rishop Harsnet. 
Lovers of Dickens were also much interested in a visit to the “ King’s 
Head Inn,” the old “Maypole” of “ Barnaby Kudge.” It is much 
to be regretted that the holiday season was the cause of a small 
attendance. 
The neighbourhood of Croydon furnishes many pleasant walks, and 
that undertaken on August 13 was no exception. The route taken ran 
from East Croydon through fields to Coombe Lane, and thence mounting 
the hill, and skirting Ballard’s plantation, led through Addington W'oods. 
The tomb raised by Ruskin to his father in Shirley Churchyard was 
visited during this ramble. August 24 was the occasion of a special 
whole-day excursion to that favourite piece of woodland scenery — 
Burnham Beeches, which has a peculiar charm in the fanciful and 
grotesque shapes taken by the old trees pollarded long ago, some say by 
Cromwell’s soldiery. 
The next visit to the country took place on September 3, and was 
as interesting as it was unique in the annals of the Club. The party 
started from Swanley Junction, and after a walk through strawberry plan- 
tations and hop-fields, arrived at the bee farm of the well-known agricul- 
turist — Mr. Henry N. Brice, who had kindly undertaken to give them an 
insight into the wonderful branch of natural history to wliich he devotes 
so much of his time. Mr. Brice adopts the most modern method of 
keeping bees for pleasure and profit, and the skill with which he handled 
the bees without allowing anyone to become too closely acquainted with 
their fiery disposition was much admired. Hives were opened and 
contents inspected, and the method of gathering honey and raising l)rood 
was most clearly and fully explained. I’articularly interesting was the 
method of artificial queen rearing, which was described in detail, and of 
which our guide was the originator. The extraction of honey from the 
comb, its ripening and packing for sending to market were also fully 
demonstrated. 
'File raml)le on .September 17 to Winchrnore Hill is one which has 
already been undertaken at least once, and although a very favourite one, 
especially at this season of this year, calls for no special comment ; while 
a full account of that on the 27th lias been given by Mr. E. A. Martin in 
the Novemljcr number of the magazine. 
The well-attended visit to the “(Ireat House” at Cheshunt on Oct. i. 
