21 



as Scii-pus maritimus, S. Tabermontani, S. glaucus, and 

 Samolus Valerandi, are found near pools at Southam and 

 Itchington Holts. A little care and attention to the distri- 

 bution and localities of certain plants, would, in many cases, 

 provide a sure means of discovering the constituent parts 

 and character of the soil. 



But meanwhile the progress of cultivation is continually 

 eradicating the old habitats of what were once common 

 plants; the luxuriant colouring of boggy meadows becomes 

 dulled to monotony by more perfect draining, the purple 

 orchis and the yellow cowslip disappear, and with them all 

 the scarcer plants, and the Botanist is obliged year by year 

 to go further afield to search for his favourite specimens. A 

 few years ago the Whitnash Pastures were unenclosed, and 

 the "Warwick Museum testifies by many specimens to its 

 former richness in scarce flowers, which are found there now 

 no longer. The lovely Fritillarias used to be wreathed into 

 May-day garlands by the children of Wroxhall in former 

 years: the meadows where they grew have been drained, 

 and a most diligent search for the last few years, at the 

 proper season, has been unsuccessful in discovering a single 

 specimen. Another cause of the disappearance of rare 

 plants is the covetousness of collectors: not content with 

 gathering one or two specimens, they frequently root out all 

 they can find, and the searcher in future years has to mourn 

 over the sad destitution of the lost habitat. The Lecturer 

 therefore, in conclusion, advised his hearers not to follow so 

 destructive an example, and to maintain a certain reserve 

 over the exact habitats of scarcer plants. 



