ON THE 



PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 



OF 



LIVERPOOL AND WIRRAL 



Since the distribution of plants depends greatly upon the 

 physical features, geognostic relations, and climate of the 

 locality, it is deemed expedient to notice briefly these power- 

 ful agents as introductory to a description of the Flora of 

 Liverpool and the neighbourhood, 



Liverpool is situated in N. lat. 5'6° 23', W. long. 2° 54', on 

 the right or east side of the estuary of the Mersey, which here 

 separates the hundred of West Derby, in Lancashire, from 

 that of Wirral, in Cheshire. Opposite the town the estuary is 

 navigable for vessels of the heaviest burthen, and is about one 

 mile in breadth ; but it widens more considerably as its course 

 extends inland to Runcorn. 



The town itself is completely exposed to the north and west, 

 and occupies partly a low range of hills, and partly a small 

 hollow or valley, formerly a marsh pool, which is bounded on 

 the west by the Mersey, on the south by the slightly elevated 

 ground of Toxteth-park, on the east by the broader and higher 

 range of Everton, and on the north by an extensive range of 

 low flat land, not many feet above the level of the sea. Of 

 this tract the borough of Liverpool includes within its area 

 5002i statute acres. The country around is flat and some- 

 what undulating, bearing in that respect a close resemblance 

 to those districts which yield supplies of coal : nevertheless, 



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