626 A. E. Verrill— The Bermuda Islands. 



has given a valuable armoted list of those that he planted, stating 

 whether they lived or died, which is a very useful record. He 

 received large numbers of plants from the botanical garden at Cam- 

 bridge, Mass. 



d. — Accidental Introduction of Injurious Weeds. 



Ever since the first settlement there has been a constant influx of 

 undesirable weeds, mostly introduced accidentally or unintentionally. 

 Many of these have come in by planting impure seeds of common 

 cultivated plants, which are constantly imported. Many have 

 undoubtedly been brought in imported hay, straw, and other mer- 

 chandise. Others which adhere by hooks to clothing, the wool of 

 imported sheep, etc., have thus been accidentally introduced. Some 

 have certainly arrived by means of seeds contained in the earth 

 adherent to the roots of imported trees and shrubs, or in the earth 

 of potted plants. 



By these and other means, large numbers of weeds, common in 

 Europe and America, or in the West Indies, have been added to the 

 flora, and having become completely naturalized, it is often impos- 

 sible, at the present time, to tell whether they were indigenous, or 

 introduced later by man. Some of the weeds have probably arrived 

 from Madeira in the onion seeds that are imported in large quan- 

 tities. 



A considerable number, however, which were originally cultivated 

 plants, have escaped from gardens and permanently established 

 themselves in all suitable places, growing as freely and abundantly 

 as if indigenous, until some of them have now become troublesome 

 w T eeds. 



As examples of this mode of introduction we ma} r mention the 

 scarlet sage (Salvia coccinea) ; the Mexican ageratum (Ageratum 



tried, and on a lai'ger scale, in many varied localities. The English oak has 

 flourished on the hot and barren volcanic plains of St. Helena, and possibly it 

 might grow on the hills of Bermuda. The American oaks planted by Lefroy did 

 not flourish. Their foliage is very sensitive to salt spray, except perhaps the 

 live-oak, which was not tried. Among American trees that resist salt spray, the 

 cotton- wood, honey-locust, red-bud, and Kentucky coffee tree may be mentioned. 

 We should also expect that many of the trees and shrubs of southern Japan 

 might also flourish here, and be used near the seashore, because many of them 

 are very resistant to the action of salt spray. On the New England coast the 

 Japanese or "California" privet; the Japan rose (Rosa rugosa)] and the 

 Japan thorn {Eleiujiuus) are all remarkable for their resistance to the action of 

 sea water. The S. Pacific Araucarian pines and the Bahama pine should be 

 fully tried. 



