FLORULA OF A PIECE OF WASTE GROUND AT ABERDEEN 231 



FLORULA OF A PIECE OF WASTE GROUND 



AT ABERDEEN. 



By JAMES W. H. TRAIL, A.M., M.D., F.R.S. 



IN the year 1869, the work was begun of cutting a new 

 and strai^hter channel for the river Dee near Aberdeen. 



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This work occupied a considerable time. One result was to 

 leave the former channel near the town empty, or nearly so, 

 except about high water of each tide. A considerable 

 extent of this old channel was gradually filled up with 

 rubbish of all sorts ; and in course of years it was raised, 

 at first here and there, but afterwards all over, to a level 

 some feet above the highest tide-mark. This " reclaimed 

 ground " lay for a time unenclosed, and covered with cart- 

 loads of rubbish brought from many sources. In this 

 condition but little vegetation could thrive, as it was trodden 

 down, or eaten by domestic animals before almost any plant 

 could form flowers or ripen seeds. Then streets and roads 

 were planned and laid out on the ground, at first mere 

 paths or roads. Some years ago the Caledonian Railway 

 Company leased a portion of this ground, near the Railway 

 Station, about seven or eight acres in extent, and protected it 

 with a high paling, so as to shut out all traffic from it, and 

 to prevent the deposition of more rubbish on it. 



The ground enclosed is irregularly triangular in outline, 

 being broader towards the east, where it abuts on small 

 enclosures used for storing old metal, for fish-curing, etc. At 

 the west end, the ground narrows to a point. The north 

 side is occupied by the main railways, or by lines for 

 shunting ; and about half the south side is bounded by 

 large flour and meal mills and other buildings, the rubbish 

 from which probably accounts for at least some of the 

 numerous foreign plants that have grown up on the ground. 



For some months after it was enclosed, the space showed 

 many bare spots, with only a moderate vegetation here and 

 there. In the early summer of 1893, one or two foreign 

 plants were brought to me from it. By the courtesy of the 

 railway authorities I have had free access to botanise there. 



