THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 283
the cabins, arranged for one, two, or three passengers, were noticeable for their
large and airy space, while it was particularly interesting to note that some of
the inside cabins are on the Tandem or Bibby system, leaving access to a port
hole in the ship's side, and giving direct light and air. The second saloon
and third-class passenger accommodation was also inspected ; a glance was
given to the lavatory and bath arrangements ; a peep taken of the cooking
galleys and pantries provided for each class of passengers, the plate washing
machines and dough-mixers for bread making, the electric light installations, and
the noiseless electric beeswing fans, fitted for keeping the air in motion. Some
of the most venturesome of the visitors descended to the engine rooms, where
they viewed, akin to wonderment, the gigantic engines—two independent sets
of cylinders stroke 60 inches, developing a 10,000 horse power, from six
cylindrical boilers, with a working pressure of 215 lbs. per square inch. All
these and many other things impressed the visitors with the luxury attaching to
travel on such a magnificent example of a modern ocean-going ship.
At the conclusion of the inspection Mr. Green entertained his guests to tea
in the first-class dining saloon. Before the party separated,
Mr. Miller Christy, Vice-President, proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Green
for the interesting day he had afforded the members of the Essex Field Club on
on board that very fine ship ; also to its Captain and Officers for the attention
they had paid them.
Mr. Shenstone, V.P., seconded the proposition, which was carried by
acclamation, and Mr. Green, in returning "thanks, spoke of the pleasure
which be and his colleagues of the Orient Company had in welcoming the
members of the Club on board.
ANNUAL FUNGUS FORAY.
Saturday, October 31st, 1908.
The Fungus Foray was held on this day, the Headquarters being again the Oak
Hill Farm, Theydon Bois, as last year. The usual arrangements were made for
the display of the specimens collected, and they were arranged ou the tables in
the room, Mr. George Massee, F.L.S., of the Kew Museum, acting as principal
referee.
A considerable number of members of the Selborne Society favoured us with
their company, and aided the collecting parties in gathering fungi for examination
and exhibition. Mr. Henry Irving, the well-known botanical photographer,
showed some very beautiful pictures of Fungi in situ. Mr. H. Whitehead and
Mr. W. Makin exhibited six photographs of Fungi and forest plants, showing
associations, taken at the previous Fungus Foray in 1907. Arrangements had
been made for exhibiting some structures of fungi under the microscopes, but
time did not allow of this. During the afternoon Mr. Robert Paulson,
F.R.M.S., found Zannichellia palustris in the upper end of Staple's Pond ; the
plant was in fruit.
The frosts in mid-October had seriously diminished the fungus flora of the
Forest, but in spite of that fact a very satisfactory number of species was found,
both on the morning collecting ground between Loughton and Theydon Bois,
and in the parts searched after luncheon round Theydon, Epping Thicks and
Ambresbury Banks. Specially noticeable were the numerous species of