1909- Adams. — Distinguishing Plants in h eland. 125 



In accordance with these definitions, the species of plants 

 found in Ireland may be divided into three groups: — 

 (A) Those which are certainly native, such as Bell- Heather, 

 Bracken, Sea Pink. (B) Those which were certainly intro- 

 duced, such as Canadian Water-Th3-me, Fragrant Butter-Bur. 

 (C) Those species regarding which there is some doubt as to 

 whether they are genuine natives or have been introduced. 

 It is with this last group that we are chiefly concerned at pre- 

 sent. Before considering their claims it will be necessary to 

 refer to the various ways in which foreign species are intro- 

 duced into this country. 



I. Foreign Grain uskd for Milling or in Brkwkries.— 

 Wheat is imported from Canada, United States, Russia, India, 

 Australia, and the Argentine Republic. The weed seeds are 

 sifted out and are frequently used for feeding fowls, with the 

 result that some of them germinate and may succeed in estab- 

 lishing themselves. A very interesting account of some of 

 these will be found in Miss M. C. Knowles's paper cited at the 

 end. As an example of this method of introduction Sisymbfitim 

 pannoniciim Jacq. may be mentioned. 



Barley used for malting comes from France, Germany, the 

 Danube, Turkey, and Persia. A list of about fifty species 

 found in the neighbourhood of the Belfast Distillery was pub- 

 lished by the late Mr. Richard Hanna. 



With regard to this method of introduction only the fringe 

 of the subject has yet been touched, but the results achieved 

 are sufficient to show what an important factor foreign grain 

 is in introducing new species to our flora. 



II. Farm Sheds. — Flax seed is imported from Holland and 

 Russia. Ca7neli7ia sativa, Crantz, and Centaurea Cya7itis, lyinn. 

 have been introduced in this way. Clover seed comes from 

 F" ranee, Germany, United States, and other countries. 



It ought to be possible to get much useful information on 

 the impurities occurring in farm seeds from the Seed-testing 

 Station under the Department of Agriculture, but, as yet, no 

 account of these seems to have been published. 



III. Feeding Stuffs, such as Indian Corn, Oilcake, Hay, 

 and Bird Seeds. The occasional appearance of Hemp and 

 Canary Grass is, probably, due to this group. 



