HERTFORDSHIRE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 
lxxi 
After crossing the river Gade and the canal, the far park 
was entered, and the avenue leading towards the old lodge, long 
since demolished, was taken for some distance. Whippendale 
Woods were then entered, and after strolling through them the 
party returned across the park. The avenue facing Cassiohury 
House, which is crossed at right angles by the avenue previously 
mentioned, was first traversed, the lock-gates on the canal and the 
river bridge were crossed, and after a little further walk the 
extensive and beautiful gardens of Cassiohury were visited, by the 
kind permission of the Earl of Essex. These gardens are said 
to have been laid out by the celebrated Le Notre, under whose 
directions the gardens of Versailles were formed. The ornamental 
trees are remarkably fine, the Coniferae especially; some of the 
cedars are supposed to be 200 years old. At this time of the year 
the gardens and conservatories are in perfection. 
The gardens were left by the picturesque wood-walks and the old 
coach-road through them for Ashlands, the residence of the President 
of the Society, Professor Attfield, F.B.S. Here the members, 
whose number had considerably increased, were most hospitably 
entertained by the President, who had accompanied them in their 
walk, and Mrs. Attfield, and after tea and cofitee and other 
refreshments had been partaken of, the picturesquely laid-out and 
well-kept gardens of Ashlands were strolled through, the party 
dispersing at about seven o’clock. 
Eield Meeting, 17th October, 1885. 
PRICKET WOOD. 
For the last three years a Cryptogamic Meeting or “ Eungus 
Foray” has been held in the autumn, and on each occasion the 
members of the Society have had the advantage of the presence of 
Dr. M. C. Cooke and other mycetologists. At this meeting, 
however, there was unfortunately no one present who could identify 
the fungi, but, as at the cryptogamic meeting in the spring of this 
year, Dr. Braithwaite, F.L.S., and Mr. E. M. Holmes, F.L.S., 
kindly gave their services, accompanying the members, and deter¬ 
mining the mosses and some other cryptogamic plants found. 
The members assembled at Bricket Wood Station in two 
detachments, the first, from Watford, waiting for about half an hour 
for the second, from St. Albans. The united party then strolled 
through Bricket Wood to the Watford and St. Albans road, 
thoroughly exploring its cryptogamic vegetation, and, traversing 
this road for a short distance to the south, returned to the station 
along the hve-road which runs for some distance between this 
part of Bricket Wood and the “ Scrubbs.” 
Although no record was made of the flowering plants seen in the 
course of the walk, it was observed that an unusual number of those 
which generally flower only in the spring were in bloom. Amongst 
these, Geranium, Robertianum was specially noticed as having 
its petals very brightly coloured. 
