23 
BOTANICAL “WAIFS” IN CUMBERLAND, 
By WM. HODGSON, A.L.S. 
(Read at Maryport and at Carlisle. ) 
Tue date of my earliest investigations on this question may be set 
down as co-eval with. the opening of the first floating dock con- 
structed in Cumberland, viz., the Marshall Dock at Silloth. This 
was shortly succeeded by the Elizabeth Dock at Maryport, the 
Lonsdale Dock at Workington, the Whitehaven Dock, and the 
Senhouse Dock at Maryport. The ballast from merchant ships 
and the sweepings from the holds of vessels when exposed upon 
the beach—especially at Silloth and Maryport—have been found 
covered with vegetation differing widely in character, according to 
the localities from which the ballast, etc., has been brought. 
Perhaps as much as 75 per cent. of the whole may be credited to 
vessels engaged in the shipment of foreign grain to this country, 
chiefly by the following firms, viz., Messrs. Carr & Co., Carlisle ; 
Messrs. Seatree & Sons, Penrith; Messrs. Irving, Maryport; and 
Messrs. Pattinsons & Winter, Whitehaven. Many of the species 
gathered are classed as indigenous to countries bordering on the 
Mediterranean, chiefly from Italy and the islands of Sicily, Sar- 
dinia, and Corsica. In North America, from the United States 
and California. In South America, from Chili, Monte Video, 
Rosario, and Brazil. I may note that I have not so far met with 
any species that can be distinctly classed as indigenous to Aus- 
tralia, New Zealand, or the Cape Colony. Intermingled with 
species of undoubted foreign origin, plants are occasionally gathered 
