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best on that soil. For instance, the Giant Bell flower ( Campanula 
latifolia ), which towers to the height of five feet ; a noble specimen 
of our native Flora, almost equalling the Fox-glove, which, by the 
way, is most abundant in the whole district, and is occasionally 
found pure white both in Loweswater and near Egremont. Another 
characteristic plant of the limestone district is the largest of our 
wild Geraniums, Geranium pratense, which is abundant in Lam- 
plugh, but is mostly absent from the non-limestone districts. The 
rich crimson Geranium sanguineum grows also on the limestone, 
but is more abundant on the sea banks and cliffs; and the bright- 
leaved Geranium lucidum seems partial to the limestone district ; 
it is absent from the immediate neighbourhood of Whitehaven. 
The pretty Geranium columbinum is found in the neighbourhood 
of Cockermouth and Saint Bees. The Soft-leaved Geranium, the 
Cut-leaved species, the Dove’s-foot Crane’s-bill, and Herb Robert, 
are very common, and may be found by the wayside, in hedges, or 
railway banks in the whole district. The dark Geranium pheum 
grows in several places, generally near farm houses or gardens, 
and is a doubtful native; while Geranium sylvaticum, the tall 
flowering species, occurs in Eskdale, and grows freely about 
Bassenthwaite and Keswick. The genus Geranium may be said 
to be well represented in West Cumberland, both as regards 
number of individuals and of species. 
There are many other plants that follow the limestone, or that 
seem to thrive best upon a soil underlaid by that rock. One may 
be mentioned that is seldom if ever found in this district off the 
limestone, that is Plantago media, or Hoary Plantain, a plant 
distinguished from the Common Plantago major by its spike of 
light lilac-colored flowers. 
The Cowslip is more common on limestone than elsewhere, and 
the Primrose also. The Primrose covers acres of ground on the 
Clints at Egremont; but the plants, though very numerous, are 
small. On the slopes of the railway between Saint Bees and 
Nethertown they attain fine proportions; one root—though by 
no means the largest—had one hundred and fifty-six expanded 
flowers, and a number of buds ready to come forward as the 
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