the borders of our cold ponds, relics of tlie retreat of the 

 glaciers, and in the sphagnum bogs, which represent a later 

 life stage of such ponds. 



Besides the variety of our flora already spoken of, each 

 great river valley has its individuality, and some species 

 and varieties which do not transfer from valley to valley. 

 The valley of the St. John especially has a flora interesting- 

 ly individual. The slate ledges of some of our rivers are 

 sufficiently calcareous to attract som© calciphile species. 



In addition to our indigenous flora, there are a large 

 number of introduced plants. Plant immigration began with 

 the first settlers, who in compliance with the conditions of 

 their grants were obliged to clear some acres for English 

 grass. Many of our common fiowers of field and roadside, 

 such as dandelion, buttercup, and the clovers, came in with 

 the English grass-seed, and with the turnip, cabbage, and 

 beans of the garden arrived pigweed, chickweed, plantain, 

 and other similar migrants, the first instalment of our weeds. 

 Ever since the time of the pioneers, Europe has been con- 

 stantly shipping us her wastrels, down to the orange and 

 yellow hawkweed of recent years, the farmer's detestation. 

 With the advent of western hayseed, many nlants of the 

 prairies found their way in. like the black-eyed Susan. The 

 number of naturalized snecies is large, and they make up 

 the body of our field and a considerable part of our roadside 

 plants. They occupy a more conspicuous place in the land- 

 scape than they have any right from the number or impor- 

 tance of their species to claim. 



Some of the reasons for the variety and interest of our 

 flora have been sketched. Maine possesses mountain and 

 valley, lowland and upland, sea-shore and lake-border, river- 

 bank and brook-side, bog and meadow, pasture-land and in- 

 tervale, ledges of granite, slate, sandstone and limestone, 

 gravel, sand and clay, acid, neutral and basic soils, and thus 

 affords a variety of environment for a large and varied flora. 



So we have our state of Maine, with its territory oc- 

 cupied by two great armies of the plant world, with its north- 

 ern and southern borders held by the rear-guard and the 

 vanguard of two other great armies, and with its gates wide 

 open to unrestricted immigration, even to hoards of un- 

 desirable aliens. Surely we may amend Prof. Watson's re- 

 mark by preflxing one letter, and adding another to the sec- 

 ond word, and say truthfully when speaking of the flora of 

 our state. "Many things can be found in Maine." 



72 



