126 The Irish Natufalist, June, 



IV. Wool. — Dunn mentions that Medicago ciliaris, Willi!., 

 from the Mediterranean, Calotis cnnei folia, R. Br., from Australia, 

 and Lcpidiiwi lacenim, C. A. Me}^ from Central Asia, have been 

 introduced into Britain in this wa}', but I have seen no record 

 so far of their occurrence in Ireland. 



V. Hides and Furs. — I am not acquainted with any 

 species so far which can be traced to this source, but the 

 subject seems scarcely to have been investigated as yet. 



VI. HoRTicui^TURK. — Very varied and numerous are the 

 species of plants grown in gardens as vegetables, fruits, 

 ornamental plants, pot-herbs, and medicinal plants. Foreign 

 seeds may be introduced in some cases as an impurity, such 

 ?iS Draba vmralis, lyinn. ; in other cases, seeds or roots may be 

 thrown out among rubbish and become permanently estab- 

 lished ; some seeds may be carried to a distance b}^ wind or 

 birds, as in the case of Gooseberry. Medicinal plants were 

 more largely cultivated in former times and, doubtless, Thorn- 

 apple, Deadly Nightshade, and others, owe their present 

 existence to this source. 



VII. Ships' Ballast. — This was a more important method 

 of introduction in the days when sailing ships were more 

 numerous. Plants introduced in this way occur in the 

 neighbourhood of seaports ; Lepidium Draba^ lyinn., is a 

 probable example. 



VIII. Logs of Timbkr. — These are imported from America 

 and Northern Europe, and are frequently floated down stream 

 to the nearest seaport. Mud, containing seeds or pieces of 

 plant stems ma^s sometimes, adhere to them. Mr. Praeger 

 informs me that Zannichellia polycarpa may have been 

 introduced in this way. 



IX. Potting Materials. — My attention has been called to 

 this method by Mr. Gunn, who states that peat for potting 

 plants is obtained from Hampshire, and sand from Bedford- 

 shire. 



X. Shipwrecks. — Some years ago the Labrador was wrecked 

 on one of the western isles of Scotland. Barrels of Canadian 

 Apples were washed ashore, and many of the seeds germi- 

 nated. 



