INTRODUCTION XXl 



mntarts, Hdleborus foetidus, H. viricUs, Epipadis violacea, and Iris foetidissima 

 are among the rarities. The woods, which are situated on the 

 Tertiaries, contain Vaccininm MyHillus, which may be said to be alsent 

 from the north of the county. In similar woods occurs Lathyrus 

 montanns, which is also very rare in the woods of northern Berks. 



There are several important woods on the more central portion of 

 the chalk plateau, one of the largest and most interesting being Ash- 

 ridge Wood, in which three rare plants are found, namely, Ornithogalum 

 pyrenaician, Colchicum autumnaJe, and Vida sylvatica. The former is very 

 abundant over a certain area. Lathinus sylvestris and Polygonatum multi- 

 /Joriim, the latter very luxuriant, with many other local plants, are also 

 found. Langley Woods, Catmore Copse, and Welford Woods contain 

 many interesting species. Near Hermitage are the hilly and picturesque 

 woods known as Oare and Fence Woods; these are on the Tertiary 

 beds, and offer a different vegetation from the woods on the Chalk. 

 Hei'e occur Eqvisetum sylvaticum, Vaccinium Myftillus, Carer paVescens, 

 Osmunda, Blechnum, Memjanthes, and Gnaphalium syhmticum, and in this 

 wood is a considerable quantity of Birch, with some planted Larch and 

 Pines. Still further to the west are Ashdown Woods and the scattered 

 coppices which now remain of the once conterminous woodlands of 

 Lambourn, Garstang, and Sheflford. The wooded parts of Snelsmore 

 Common must not be omitted. In some of these woods the Snowdrop, 

 the Daffodil, and Deadly Nightshade have been found. 



The extensive peat deposits in the Kennet Valley show that it 

 was once a dense woodland tract. South of Hungerford there is 

 a beautiful hanging wood, chiefly composed of Hazel with Pyrus 

 Aria, on the chalk escarpment known as Riever Wood, containing 

 Myosotis sylvatica, the only recorded locality for it in the county, and 

 also Paris quadrifolia, Pohigonatum muJtiJIorum, and a profuse growth of 

 Lychnis dioica. A neighbouring wood is the home of Carex strigosa, Poa 

 Chaixii, and Ornithogalum ptjrenaicum. There are many coppices about 

 the well-wooded park of Hampstead Marshall, in which the Mistletoe, 

 Iris foetidissima, Dryoptcris montana, and Lathraea have been found. The 

 wooded portions of Greenham Common have Myrica Gale, and the 

 Alder gullies often contain the Alder buckthorn and the Golden 

 Saxifrage. Further to the east are the extensive and beautiful woods 

 of Aldermaston, Wasing, Mortimer, and Ufton, chiefly composed of 

 plantations ot the Scotch Fir, which was formerly a native of the county, 

 as appears from the remains of the cones in the peat ; the present 

 trees have been planted during recent times, although self-sown trees 

 are now springing up over this heathy tract. Oaks are also found in 

 the more clayey parts, and on the peaty margins of streams the Alders 

 luxuriate ; in the more sandy soils are beautiful specimens of Birch, 

 and Hazels too are frequent. The undergrowth in the pine woods 



