16 POPULAR ERRORS. 



In an editorial in the Gardeners' Chronicle for 

 1863, page 1 , 228, an account is given of the follow- 

 ing observation? by Mr. G B. Wollaston of Chisle- 

 hurst, on the Mid-Kent Railway: 



" Certain excavations were necessary, and these 

 had to be made to a depth varying from five to ten 

 feet in the virgin sand and gravel of the district. 

 Thereupon Erigeron Canadense sprang up every- 

 where, so as to completely cover the earth to the 

 almost total exclusion of other vegetation. The 

 Erigeron was not previously known to grow in the 

 neighborhood. Indeed it is one of the so-called 

 rare species, of which comparatively few habitats 

 are linown in England, and even its claim to rank 

 as a native plant is generally questioned. Yet, the 

 interesting fact Mr. Wollaston records, though not 

 to be taken as exact evidence, seems to afford strong 

 presumptive proof that the plant is a true native, 

 and that its seeds must have been buried for an 

 indefinite period in the soil. ' 



In " Schoolcraft's Missouri" (1819), page 29, 

 Henry E. Schooler aft says: " The soil thrown out 

 of the pits sunk in search of ore also produces sev- 

 eral plants and trees which are not peculiar to the 

 surface. Such are the Poplar or Cottonwood, and 

 Beach Grape, which are found to flourish only on 

 the rich alluvial lands composing the banks of 

 rivers. Nevertheless, I have seen these growing 



