SELBORNE SOCIETY NOTICES 
199 
Saturday , August 25. — On this day a small party assembled at Byfleet 
Station on the South Western Railway, and took an enjoyable walk to Wisley to 
see the Gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society. These were originally laid 
out by the late Mr. G. F. Wilson, and after his death they were purchased and 
presented to the Royal Horticultural Society by Sir Thomas I Ianbury. Though the 
best time for seeing the Gardens is earlier in the year, there was much of interest 
to look at, and it was easy to imagine the additional beauty that a wealth of 
Spring flowers would give to the slopes and pond sides. Mr. Fitzwater led the 
party across the fields to the Gardens ; and, in the absence of the Superintendent, 
one of the head gardeners was kind enough to show the party round. It was 
mentioned that all birds are protected, and some of the nesting-boxes originally 
put up by Mr. Wilson were still to be seen. Thanks are due to the Rev. W. 
Wilks, Secretary of the Royal Horticultural Society, for the kind permission to 
visit Wisley. 
Saturday, September 1. — A small party of Selbornians met at Tattenham 
Corner Station and had a beautiful ramble under the leadership of Miss Giberne, 
over Epsom Downs and up to Walton Heath. The day was somewhat hot for 
walking, and the route taken was not so shady as could be wished. Just before 
reaching Walton a much needed halt was called, and the party rested under 
some shady trees. The distance was misty, and the hills above Oxshott were 
only faintly seen. On reaching the village of Walton the party proceeded across 
the heath to Tadworth, and, after tea at the hotel there, spent a short time on 
the heath, admiring the view towards Betchworth and Reigate, and then returned 
by a shorter route in the cool of the evening. 
Saturday, September 8. — A party of twelve met at Chingford Station about 
3 p.m., under most pleasant weather conditions, and proceeded across the plain 
under the guidance of Mr. C. Nicholson. Portions of the plain have been 
levelled and returfed, and owing to the dry weather each turf was separated 
from its neighbour by cracks, some of which were an inch in width. Passing 
along the green ride, a short halt was made under Grimston’s Oak, from which 
an ideal woodland path was taken leading towards Fairmead Plain. Several 
bushes of Butcher’s Broom (Kuscus aculeatus ) were found, none of the plants, 
unfortunately, showing either flowers or berries. It is a common plant in the 
forest, and is the only British shrubby monocotyledon. Further on some young 
foxgloves were noticed, and the guide drew the attention of the party to a patch 
of Rest-Harrow ( Ononis spinosa), growing near the site of Fairmead Lodge. 
Nothing of the Lodge is now visible but part of an underground brick arch and 
a long piece of concrete just exposed among grass and nettles. One of the party 
pointed out that some of the bricks of the arch were shorter and thinner than the 
rest, and had probably been taken from some older building. Passing through 
Hill Wood, the party crossed a heathy part near High Beach Church, where 
Dwarf Furze (Ulex nanus) was well in flower, and entered Paul’s Nursery. 
Here the aesthetic sense of the party was touched by the beauty of many roses, 
some young plants of a species of Eucalyptus, and some fine spikes of Lialris 
pycnostachya ; their interest was stirred by some pitcher-plants of the genus 
Sarracenia , the tubes containing a liquid which was to all appearance clean 
and innocent of the usual corpses of decaying insects ; and their material tastes 
were flattered by some very fine blackberries. Leaving the Nursery, and passing 
out into the open space in front of the King’s Oak Hotel, the view over Waltham 
Abbey and Cheshunt was much appreciated, and the party descended to the 
“ Duke of Wellington ” Inn for tea. A pleasant walk back to Chingford Station, 
via Pepper Alley, Leppitts Hill, and the Bury Path, terminated an outing which 
was unanimously voted most successful. 
NEWS FROM THE BRANCHES. 
A General Meeting of the Brent Valley Branch was held in the Bird Sanctuary 
near Ealing on Saturday, September 8. Mr. Wilfred Mark Webb occupied the 
Chair, and the Committee was re-elected for 1906-7. Mrs. Wilfred Mark Webb 
was unanimously re-elected Honorary Secretary and Treasurer, and the financial 
statement showed a satisfactory balance. The Chairman read a report upon the 
