no PEOCEEDIiraS OF THE 



Papaver jRhoeas. Setaria viridis. 



Thlaspi arvense. *S. glnuca. 



Siiiapis alba. Bromus arvensis. 



Lychnis Githago. B. secalinus. 

 Gentaurea Gyanus. 



And, lastly, aliens and casuals from various parts of the globe, 

 viz. : — 



Saponana Vaccaria. Amsinkia, sp. 



TrifoUum hyhridum. Polygonum Fagopyrum. 



Melilotus alba. Cannabis sativa. 



Cucurbifa maxima. Phalaris canariensis. 



*Xanthium spinosum. *Panieum miliaceum. 

 * Astragalus, sp. 



In the following winter dredging was resumed ; the barges and 

 steam-cranes were again busy with fresh material ; and a good 

 deal of tlie space which liad been alive witli luxuriant vegetation 

 was deeply buried under more seed-bearing soil of like compo- 

 sition. As the summer of 1884 advanced most of the plants 

 previously noted appeared again in company with some others. 

 The new arrivals are included in the above list, but are distin- 

 guished by asterisks. 



It will be seen that many of these species are to be regarded 

 with interest, not because they are rare, but rather on account of 

 their unexpected appearance in such a peculiar situation. The 

 luxuriant dimensions of most of the plants is worthy of remark. 

 Some stems of Bromus madritensis were three feet high and bore 

 panicles as big as one's head ; and a single root of Sclerochloa 

 procumbens would overspread a square yard of ground. 



And now by what means came such a large number of plants 

 to spring up spontaneously, and whence came the seed? In 

 reply to these questions, I will only venture to say that intimate 

 acquaintance with the locality and its botanical features, together 

 with close observation of the events herein described, have con- 

 vinced me that the seeds of all these plants were contained in 

 the soil at the time of its deposition; that they had previously been 

 lying imbedded in the Avon mud without losing their vitality ; 

 and that, notwithstanding their long submersion, tliey were ready 

 to spring into life when the favourable opportunity oftered. 



