[Crown Copyright Reserved. 
ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW. 
BULLETIN 
OF 
ee a 
s. 9 & 10] [1917 
No 
XXIX.—THE FLORA OF THE SOMME 
BATTLEFIELD. 
istory. 
The Butte of Warlencourt, reduced by bombardment to a 
bare mound of chalk, is seen by the remnants of stumps to have 
destroyed and ploughed up again and again by shells, with the 
result that hardly a level spot can be found. The surface of the 
ground is everywhere more or less deeply pitted by shell-holes 
of varying size and depth, and can best be imitated by arranging 
on 
The underlying rock is everywhere chalk with a covering of 
loam of varying thickness. As a result of the bombardment the 
old surface soil has been scattered and the chalk partially 
exposed. One effect of the shelling, however, has been to dis- 
integrate the underlying chalk and produce a weathering effect 
which has been accentuated by the winter rains, snow and frost. 
A general mixing of chalk, subsoil, and scattered top soil and 
also a rounding of the sharp edges has taken place, so that 
(5071.) Wt. 159-699. 1,125. 12/17. J.T.&S., Ltd. @14. Sch. 12. 
