JohnstorCs Flora of Ber'isoick upon Tweed, 237 



its slender and grassy appearance. Thus Walter Scott, in 

 describing the grace of the " Lady of the Lake," says, 



" E'en the slight hare-bell raised its head. 

 Elastic, from her^airy tread. 



When doubtful natives are found, it is extremely desirable 

 that authors should be particular in examining all the causes, 

 as far as they can, which may have brought them into their 

 situations. In a highly improved country like ours, there 

 are, no doubt, hundreds of species adopted as natives, which 

 art and cultivation have introduced, yillium Schcenoprasum, 

 for instance, which is found at " Fastcastle," can hardly be 

 established as wild. This, we know, was an oleraceous plant 

 used by our forefathers, perhaps before the " Onion " was 

 introduced. There are many plants peculiar to the neigh- 

 bourhood of castles, which probably were the products of the 

 gardens attached, and which have no claim to be regarded as 

 indigenous. ikZelampyrum montanum is a new species which 

 the author has attempted to establish, though not without 

 hesitation, since the differences, he remarks, may be attribut- 

 able to situation. Why not, then, have placed it as a variety, 

 or variation, under its nearest congener, until he had satis- 

 fied himself of its permanent character by cultivation ? This 

 hasty splitting of species is involving the science in inextri- 

 cable difficulty. 



The author states Ficia /athyroides to belong to the Ber- 

 wick Flora ; but he assigns its station in so general a way as 

 to lead us to suspect some mistake. This species, as far as 

 we know, has hitherto been found only on the sands of the 

 eastern counties. Probably, Ficia angustifolia or some 

 variety of F, sativa has been taken for it. It appears that 

 -Arctium Bardana more frequently occurs in waste grounds 

 about Berwick than the A. Zappa. The author finds the 

 Veronica filiformis of Decandolle, of which a figure is added, 

 in cultivated grounds. Mr. Borrer had found it before in 

 Sussex. 



Having now given our readers some slight taste of the 

 4;ontents of Dr. Johnston's work, we cannot dismiss it without 

 recommending it to their rumination. It is composed more in 

 the spirit of the Flora Lapponica, that model for all similar 

 undertakings, than any other which occurs to our recollec- 

 tion. Its technical dulness is relieved by litde excursions into 

 the by-paths of literature and the useful applications of sci- 

 ence. Instead of being as dry and uninteresting as a spell- 

 ing-book, it is as engaging as that entertaining book. Dr. 

 Johnson's folio dictionary. Without sacrificing good taste, 



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