72 BOTANY OF CHEADLE. 



Art. IV. — A few Observations on some of (he Natural Objects in 

 the neighbourhood of Cheadle, Staffordshire. By James Carter, 

 Esq. 



As it is only by the accurate recording of facts and observa- 

 tions made by individuals on the objects of the districts in 

 which they reside, that a general knowledge of the natural 

 history of any country can be acquired, I am induced to publish 

 the following scattered notes, made during the years 1836,-37, 

 and part of 1838, in the intervals of time left unoccupied by 

 the discharge of professional duties, and by so doing add ano- 

 ther mite to the information on local natural history, at present 

 " rudis indigestaque moles," but from which, at some future 

 period, general laws of great interest may be deduced. 



The country in the vicinity of Cheadle is highly picturesque, 

 being very hilly, and intersected in various directions by nar- 

 row valleys, the sides of which are frequently very abrupt and 

 rocky, whereby the scenery is rendered romantic. The ge- 

 neral features of the country are in fact intermediate between 

 those of the southern and of the northern counties. 



The Flora also, as might be expected from the situation of 

 the county, consists of a mixture of the plants common in the 

 south with those characteristic of the north of England. — 

 Thus, Clematis Vitalba entirely disappears, and Acer cam- 

 pestre is by no means common or abundant : and on the other 

 hand we meet with Empetrum nigrum, Parnassia palustris, 

 Saxifraga hypnoides, Vaccinium Vitis Idea, and other north- 

 ern plants. The difference however consists rather in the 

 degree of abundance of the same plants, than in the occur- 

 rence of different species; for instance, Vaccinium Myrtillus, 

 which occurs sparingly in the south, grows in the greatest 

 profusion in many of our fir plantations and commons, even 

 to the exclusion of almost every other plant, with the excep- 

 tion of Calluna and Erica. 



Many of the tracts of common in this part of the country are 

 still very extensive, although within the last few years a vast 

 quantity has been enclosed and planted with firs. Grouse are 

 found in tolerable abundance on some of the large heaths in 

 the possession of the Earl of Shrewsbury, and also on those 

 belonging to the Duke of Devonshire near Buxton, Derby- 

 shire. Besides the plants usually met with on the heaths in 

 the neighbourhood of London, Eleocharis caspitosa, Juncus 

 squarrosus, and Digitalis purpurea are extremely common 

 and abundant, as are also Jasione montana and Empetrum 

 nigrum. Plantago Coronopus and Genista anglica occur 

 sparingly : in the moist spots Eriophorum angustifolium, 



