442 Botany, 



sure in the pursuit of any peculiar department of science, can readily 

 excuse the feelings of exclusive importance with which the minds of natu- 

 ralists are sometimes occupied. No established law of nature, in the geo- 

 graphical distribution of plants, is interfered with. Under the same latitudes 

 of the eastern and western hemispheres, the plants are neither all similar 

 nor all dissimilar ; therefore, whether seeds be conveyed by man, or by the 

 waters of the Deluge, we see no distinction in the consequence. Who, 

 amongst us, would venture to assert the propriety of excluding cultivated 

 exotics: the edible from our tables, or the ornamental from our gardens; 

 why, then, the flowers from our fields ? We would be content to register 

 Britain's legitimate post-diluvian flora as it now stands, class future dis- 

 coveries as doubtful natives, or acclimated subjects, and encourage all to 

 become disseminators of new beauties over our native land, for the benefit 

 and gratification of future generations. After all, the calm looker-on must 

 smile at the effects of any recent dissemination of the Linaria Cymbalaria ; 

 since Parkinson, about six generations ago, said — * It groweth naturally 

 in divers places of our land.' " (B. Maund, in his Botanic Garden for 

 March, 1831, No. 300.) 



Linaria Cymbalaria prevails in the interstices of the masonry of Caius 

 College, Cambridge, especially at the back of the Gate of Virtue ; that is, 

 supposing one to enter at the Gate of Humility, and to pass through the 

 Gate of Virtue, in his way to the Gate of Honour. Mr. Dovaston (Vol. II. 

 p. 401.) attests its prevalence in similar situations at the sister university. 



lyissemination of Exotic Plants. — Sir, I have seen that opinion is divided 

 with regard to distributing foreign plants in British soil. I confess I am 

 for doing it, as I have not seen at present any reasons to the contrary that 

 have satisfied me : so, if you do not supply a satisfactory objection, 1 shall 

 soon commence the (to a select few) abominable practice. Spring flowers, 

 I believe, are generally acknowledged to be most welcome j so I ask you 

 (though, perhaps, you are one of the select few I mentioned), what would 

 more heighten a mechanic's pleasure, after being pent up in a close workshop 

 all the week, and without having tasted any fresh air, and whose eyes have 

 not been blest with the sight of the least " green thing " all the time, than, on 

 taking a Sunday morning's ramble, to observe, on some sunny bank, the 

 golden winter aconite shining in the sunbeams, and here and there a few 

 snowdrops scattered among the sod on which he treads ? Oh ! he would 

 feel it ; it would penetrate to his heart, and make him look " from Nature 

 up to Nature's God." It is what I have been thinking of for some time. 

 I have a stock of seeds of Eranthis hyemalis (the winter aconite) ; and I 

 think nothing shall prevent me attempting to make our fields a perfect gar- 

 den. Gilia capitata and Collomia grandiflora are the sort of plants for the 

 purpose, as it requires some trouble to extirpate them when once established. 

 I am. Sir, yours, &c. — F. i2. ik%21. 1831. 



We have been told that the beautiful Coreopsis (now Calliopsis) tinc- 

 toria is established in the corn fields about Glasgow. Is this true ? If not, 

 it can doubtless be rendered true, as the plants from self-sown seeds are, 

 especially where even slight shelter obtains, proof to the severity of British 

 winters. This elegant and splendid annual, if established in our corn fields, 

 would rival, perhaps even surpass, the brilliant bluebottle (Centaurea Cy- 

 anus, the Cyanus ^egetum of Moench); the gorgeously golden corn mari- 

 gold (Chrysanthemum ^egetum)'; and the beauteous branching larkspur 

 (Delphinium Consolida) ; all which, here and there, beautify the fields of 

 Cambridgeshire. — J. D. 



Anemone nemorosa. — The blossoms of this plant are very fragrant, so 

 much so, that a wood in which it abounds is as fragrant as a bank of vio- 

 lets (Hola odorata). This quaUty is not noticed by Smith in his English 

 Flora. — Henry Turner. Botanic Garden, Bury St. Ednrnturs, April , 1831. 



