36 
THE ESSEX NATURALIST. 
attack of “ strikitis ” from which the coal-mining industry was suffering, 
necessitated a slight alteration of plans almost at the last moment, but 
the entire party was successfully marshalled at Waterloo in time for the 
10.45 train to Effingham Junction, which was reached an hour later. 
Here our associate member, Mr. E. E. Turner (formerly of Coggeshall), 
was awaiting us, and under his leadership a leisurely walk of three miles 
to the Gardens was entered upon, botanical and other observations and 
collections being made by the way, and lunch being partaken of in a pine- 
wood en route. 
At Elm Corner the fungus Mitvula paludosa was gathered, growing in 
a swamp amongst Sphagnum , and attracted much attention from its bright- 
orange receptacle. Drosera rotundifolia was also noted, and masses 
of Hypericum elodes, not yet in flower. An abundant growth of the exotic 
aroid Calla palustris, in a small pool (believed to be its only station in 
England) was pointed out by Mr. Chittenden, who joined the party at the 
spot. 
The Gardens were reached at 2.30 o’clock, and the visitors were per¬ 
sonally conducted through them by Mr. Chittenden, inspecting in turn 
the experimental plots of vegetables and of fruit trees, the extensive and 
picturesque rock-garden (a dream of floral beauty, which it was difficult 
to believe had only been commenced in 1911), and some of the hot-houses. 
In the Vinery our conductor pointed out one vine which had been raised 
from a cutting from a Palestine parent. This was the celebrated vine of 
Eshcol, which, it will be remembered, was in Biblical times so profuse 
a bearer that it is recorded that the spies, sent by Moses into Canaan, 
" cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between 
two upon a staff ; its old-time fertility is still maintained, as Mr. Chitten¬ 
den informed us that his plant has yielded a bunch of grapes weighing iqlbs., 
while a 281b. bunch has been recorded by others from the same variety. 
At 4.45 o’clock tea was kindly provided by Mr. Chittenden in the 
Entrance Hall of the beautiful Laboratory Building, our indefatigable 
host meanwhile giving us a chatty account of the history of the Royal 
Horticultural Society since its foundation in 1804, and of the Gardens under 
his charge. The latter, 65 acres in extent, and which we were informed 
necessitate an expenditure to-day of something like .£10,000 per annum 
for upkeep (of which sum a munificent Government contributes by way of 
grant, £200 per annum !) were bought for £5,000 by the late Sir Thomas 
Hanbury and were presented by him to the Society, three Trustees being 
appointed by the donor to ensure the permanence of the scheme of manage¬ 
ment laid down by him ; of these Trustees, our member, Miss E. Willmott, 
F.L.S., V.M.H., who first suggested to Sir Thomas Hanbury the desirability 
of making the purchase, is one. 
After tea a short meeting of the Club was held, when 
Mr. Alderman W. Gurney Benham, F.S.A., of 9, Lexden Road, Col¬ 
chester, and 
Miss Edith Gemmell, of 10, Hampton Road, Forest Gate, E.y, 
were elected members ; and three certificates of nomination were read. 
The President moved that the hearty thanks of the Club be accorded 
to our host for his invitation and hospitality, and for the many services 
x Numbers xiii., 23, 24. 
