30 



intermixture of the older rocks than about Bath, giving rise, in 

 accordance with what was before stated, to a more varied Flora. 

 The number of plants found about Bristol exceeds the number 

 about Bath by fifty species or more. This is partly due to the 

 greater variety of soils, and partly to the proximity of Bristol to 

 the Channel, the tide flowing up to the town, and affording 

 stations for several maritime species not met with at Bath, 

 though there is one, a kind of rush (Scirpus maritimus), that often 

 travels inwards some little distance from the sea, said to grow on 

 the bank of the river near the gas-works. I have not, however, 

 seen it there myself 



The Bath Flora has received attention from different botanists 

 for a considerable number of years back. A few species are 

 mentioned in Collinson's "History of Somerset," published in 

 1791. A longer list, but consisting of the rarer species only, 

 was appended to Warner's " Histoiy of Bath " by Tdr. Sole, 

 formerly a resident in this town, of whom I caii find no bio- 

 graphical notice. He was a distinguished botanist in his day, and 

 published at Bath, in the year 1798, an important work on the 

 "Mints of Great Britain," illustrated by twenty-four engravings, 

 many of which are taken from Bath specimens, while he has 

 indicated the exact habitats of all the species he had met with 

 about here. Another valuable work of Mr. Sole's, containing 

 coloured drawings of "The English Grasses," was never pub- 

 lished, and is probably confined to the single copy belonging to 

 the Bath and West of England Agricultural Society, in the 

 keeping of the Bath Literary and Scientific Institution.* A large 

 number of these grasses appear to have been collected in the 

 neighbourhood of Bath, and to one I shall have occasion to draw 

 your attention in the course of this lecture ; many, however, 

 that he has represented are merely varieties of others. 



* It has the following title—" William Sole. An account of the 

 principal English Grasses, with descriptions of their respective 

 excellencies and defects in Agriculture." Bath, 1799, Folio. 



