HERTEORDSHIRE KATTJRAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 
XXXIX 
Wood, in which some time was spent hotanising, to Ayers End and 
over No Man’s Land Common. A lane from this Common leads 
past a farm to the Devil’s Dyke, a dry hollow running nearly north 
and south for about half a mile. Its greatest depth is about thirty 
feet, and its width at the top about seventy feet, its sides sloping 
down at a rather steeper angle than 45°. 
“ A short quarter of a mile east of the Dyke,” says Mr. Cussans,*' 
“is a moat, running nearly parallel to it, about a third of a mile in 
length, locally known as the Slad. It is always, even in the driest 
summer, filled with water, and although it is never cleaned out, it 
is stated to he very deep in the centre. I find the depth, close to 
the bank, to be from four to five feet. How it is always supplied 
with water is a geological mystery. It stands on a high ridge of 
land, higher than the Devil’s Dyke, which is always dry, and 
although the land on both sides certainly inclines towards it, yet 
the surface-drainage of that land is far too inconsiderable to account 
for the constant presence of water.” 
The party separated here without solving this mystery, some 
walking hack to St. Albans, and the majority proceeding up the 
Dyke to Wheathampstead, where tea was partaken of, after which 
Harpenden Station was reached by way of the Grove. 
Eield Meeting, 1st June, 1889. 
ST. ALBANS. 
Assembling at St. Peter’s Church, the members walked through 
St. Peter’s Park across the fields into Sandpit Lane, and then 
through Beaumont’s Avenue and again across fields into Camp 
Lane, returning along this lane to Messrs. Sander & Co.’s Orchid 
Nurseries. After inspecting the beautiful and valuable collection 
of orchids, the party assembled in the conservatory and the thanks 
of the members were conveyed by Dr. Brett to Mr. Sander for 
kindly throwing open his orchid houses to the Society. 
The party then visited The Hollies, the residence of the Mayor, 
Mr. Bichard Gibbs, who hospitably provided tea and other refresh¬ 
ments in a marquee erected for the purpose on the lawn. The 
botanical and entomological collections of his son Mr. A. E. Gibbs, 
the director of the meeting, were then inspected, and the meeting 
was brought to a close by a vote of thanks to the Mayor, on the 
proposition of Mr. Hopkinson. 
Eield Meeting, 6th June, 1889. 
DIGSWELL AND HATFIELD. 
Meeting at Welwyn Station, the party, including members from 
both the east and west of the county, under the direction of Mr. 
Hopkinson, crossed the valley of the Mimram and walked through 
Digswell Park, by the Church, and then through the Bectory 
grounds, into Sherrard’s Park Wood. This is a favourite walk, 
* ‘ Hist. Herts, Cassio Hundred,’ p. 220. 
