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tg00-1901.] Flora of the Shores of the Firth of Forth. 205 
shore, also at Morrison’s Haven, growing in similar abundance. 
It is not again found until near South Queensferry. Then it 
appears at Bo’ness, and on the opposite shore at Kincardine. 
The common scurvy grass (Cochlearia officinalis, L.) is very 
common on both sides of the Forth: it is particularly abund- 
ant at South Queensferry, North Queensferry, and Morrison’s 
Haven: from the last only a few scattered specimens are 
seen on to the mouth of the Esk. Then scarcely another 
plant will be found until reaching the grassy bank at North 
Leith old churchyard, where it grows abundantly. 
Among the grasses found on both shores of the Firth may 
be mentioned the creeping couch-grass (Zvriticum repens, L.), 
the meadow soft-grass (Holeus lanatus, L.), the wall barley 
(Hordeum murinum, L.), and the barren brome-grass (Bromus 
sterilis, L.) Amongst the twenty reputed species and varieties 
of Atriplex, several are found on the shores of the Forth. 
It may be well to notice here the important part played by 
various plants as agents of reconstruction. Of this class there 
are several species plentiful here and there on the margin of 
the Forth, such as the whitlow-grass, the dyer’s rocket, the 
_rest-harrow, Trifolium arvense, Astragalus hypoglottis, and 
Epilobium obscurum (plentiful at Bo'ness). 
In conclusion, on traversing the shores of the Forth from 
North Berwick upwards, the observer will note the absence of 
shrubs or trees near its margin. From North Berwick to 
opposite Fidra the ground is partially level: after that there 
is no vegetation to be met with for some distance—only 
huge mounds of sand, made up of thousands of tons. Near 
the Longniddry shore arborescent vegetation again begins to 
appear, weather-bitten and scant of foliage, making evident 
the force of the gales which blow across the German Ocean. 
Not far distant, and near to the water’s edge, the elder grows 
_ luxuriantly—a hint to proprietors that this is an excellent 
shrub to plant in exposed situations. After the elder comes 
the whin and the bramble; while the sea-buckthorn grows 
 luxuriantly a little beyond South Queensferry. On the north 
_ shore arborescent forms begin a little lower down. 
