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On my way back to the city I stopped to gather flowers by 
the roadside, under hedges and in the neighboring fields. A 
. pretty little fumitory (Fumaria capreolata, L.) climbed along a 
hedge, under the shade of which a simply pinnate fern (Blechnum 
australe, L..) grew in abundance. 
In the fields near the road, and in waste places, I was sur- 
prised to find many familiar plants, which grow in similar situa- 
tions in the United States. Most of these were European species 
which are adventitious with us or which have escaped from cult- 
ivation. The bright little scarlet pimpernel (Avagallis arvensis) 
greeted me as an old friend. With it were associated the com- 
mon shepherds-purse, Samolus Valerandi, Cerastium vulgatum, 
Sagina procumbens, Lepigonum medium, Fries., Spergula arven- 
sts, Portulaca oleracea, several species of Medicago, Centunculus 
minimus, Veronica agrestis and Veronica arvensis. In an old 
vacant lot I found a rank growth of weeds, some of which have 
established theniselves in many parts of the world. Among 
them were several species of Chenopodium and Rumex, the com- 
mon bur-dock, Datura Stramontum, Marrubium vulgare, the 
deadly night-shade, Ste//aria media, Herb Robert, wild carrots 
and radishes, Conzum maculatum, Maruta Cotula, DC., chicory, 
the sow-thistle, Plantago major, and a tangled mass of GaliumApa- 
rine, Mikania scandens and the common bird-weed of the fields. 
In looking over Don José’s herbarium I was much impressed 
with the scarcity of Ranunculacee. The whole order was there 
represented by nine species—two species of Clematis, one Ane- 
mone, two Ranunculi, one Aphanostemma, and three species of 
Casalea. In the United States and in Europe the Ranunculaceze 
_ comprise some of the most beautiful and characteristic species of 
the flora; in the Banda Oriental none of them are conspicuous. 
I had the pleasure of going on two botanical excursions with 
Don Jose—to Independencia, or La Paz, where I made almost a 
complete collection of the spring flowers of the fields, and to an 
estancia near the town of Santa Lucia, where I collected speci- 
mens of many of the indigenous trees of the country. Both of 
these localities are in the Province of Comelones, and are situated 
on the Central Uruguayan Railroad. From the car windows we _ 
- could see large fields of wheat, well kept vineyards, and orchards 
