28o The Irish Naturalist, [Nov., 



duced a plant. Geranium, sanguineum and the Erodium, 

 or Stork's-bill, bloom profusely, having been introduced ; 

 but Herb Robert {G. Robertiaiiurn) and the Dove's Foot 

 (G. molle) are older inhabitants than myself, while every- 

 where, even on the paths, the Common Balsam finds a 

 home, till flowering time. The Wood-Sorrel {Oxalis Aceto- 

 sella) grows, but only where I planted it. Trefoils and 

 Medick {Medicago lupiUina)^ however, abound on the sloping 

 banks, with which the playground is surrounded ; and Rest- 

 Harrow {Ono7iis arvensis) has lately obtained a footing, through 

 planting a root which had chanced to come up in gathering a 

 spray on one of our Field Naturalists' excursions. I brought 

 seeds of the Spotted Medick {M. maculata) from Bray, and of 

 the White Melilot {Melilotus alba) from Wicklow ; and these 

 have at once located themselves and spread. The Purple and 

 White Clovers {Trifolium prate7ise2M^ T. repe7is), but especially 

 the latter, grow luxuriantly ; and the fact that we always have 

 one or more nests of Wild Bees in the playground may have 

 something to do with this luxuriance. Lotus corniculatus, too, 

 spreads along the slopes, and one or two of the vetches, but, 

 except during the holidays, no legumes ever show. The 

 Silver- weed, or Goose-grass {Poteutilla A7iscri7ia) is every- 

 where, though its fleshy roots are eaten with relish ; and the 

 Creeping Cinque-foil {F. repta7is), as well as the Strawberry- 

 leaved Cinque-foil {F. Jragariastru77i), can be discovered. 

 Here also you can see the Common Tormentil {P. Tori}ie7itilla), 

 and in a corner the Blackberry sometimes preserves its fruit 

 till it is quite gree7i. The Agrimony {Agrii}i07iia Eupatoria) 

 I have only once seen ; though it grows quite freely on 

 the esplanade ground of the Royal Barracks adjacent. Of 

 Willow-herbs there are no less than three kinds ; and the 

 Evening Primrose {Qi7iothera bie7i7iis), though, of course, a 

 garden escape, is quite a weed ; while Enchanter's Nightshade 

 {Circcea lutetia7ia) is a terrible nuisance, though not so much 

 so as Knot-grass, which ousts even the grass from the middle 

 of the playground, especially where an old fly-pole once 

 stood. The Cotyledo7i Uiiibilicus has lately located itself in a 

 corner, though how, or why, I know not, for I did not bring it 

 there ; but stone-crop has been near that same corner for many 

 years. I planted some I^ondon Pride {Saxifraga u77tbrosa) 



