420 CHARLES CARDALE BABINGTON. [1888 



on page 16 that he speaks of you as sending to him the R. anglo- 

 saxonicus. I see that it is referred to in the Danish text also as 

 sent from Plymouth with the name of B. macrophylhcs. Can you 

 give a clue to this plant ? I possess the Holstein E. anglo-saxonicus. 

 The words are "Dans le jardin botanique de la ville de Lund on 

 tire cette espece de graines, qui d'apr^s les renseignements de M. 

 Areschoug, ont 6t6 envoy^es par M. Briggs k Plymouth, avec des 

 indications sur leur origine d'une forme qui probablement se 

 rapproche de tr^s-pres de E. macrophyllus." It is curious that none 

 of the continental authors seem to have any knowledge of our 

 sublustris which is the type of Smith corylifolius, and, as I think, 

 very constant in form. Can it be the Callianthus (Miill.) ? Or is it 

 the Laschii of Focke, as seems more probable ? Indeed, I think that 

 is it. Of course our sublustris is by very far the oldest name. It 

 seems to me to be a specially English plant : not known to the 

 Danes, and not at all well in Germany — although " occurrit passim 

 in dumetis Germ, borealis." Focke says that it is constant from 

 seeds. I have not time to write more now, and send this in its 

 present form in the hope that you may determine the anglo-saxonicus 

 this summer. I go north very soon, but at my age, although very 

 well, I cannot do much in the field. — Yours truly, Charles C. 

 Babington. 



To T. R. Archer Briggs, Esq. 



ScHooLHousE, Braemar, N.B., Auff. 30, 1888. 



Dear Mr. Briggs, — I was very much pleased to receive your 

 letter, forwarded to me here. I think that by the information 

 you have so kindly sent I shall be able to identify the Ruhus sent 

 to Areschoug, as I have no doubt that I have the specimen in 

 question from Elburton. There seems to be no doubt about the 

 sublustris. It has always been well known to me : the common and 

 typical corylifolius of Smith. He may have included other things 

 under the name, as I have done, but the figure and description are 

 conclusive as to the original plant intended. Few seem to know 

 my supposed varieties (if such they are) but all know the coryli^ 

 folius-sublustris. I have long had it from E. Lees. He knew it 

 well, but made some very singular mistakes amongst the other Rubi. 

 The weather is not all that we could wish here, but not much to be 

 complained of. Yesterday we were high up amongst the moun- 

 tains near Ben Muich Dhui. I am too old to attempt the tops of 

 these fine hills, but take very much pleasure in the upper valleys. 

 There is one hill (3000 feet) close by, upon which we can easily get, 

 as our house is 1100 feet above the sea. On it there is an abund- 

 ance of Ruhus Chamaemorus and saxatilis (no other bramble is at 

 Braemar except Idaeus). Azalea, Vaccinium Vitis-idaea, (and some 

 uliginosum) and Arctostaphylos-Uva-ursi ; also Pyrola, Cornus suecica, 

 and Trientalis. We have also gathered Linnaea near here. But 

 then all these nice things are out of flower. The common Dock here 



