43 



it has never flourished as Mr. Sole expected, shewing how 

 ungenial the place must have been to it, if indeed it still exists 

 in the neighbourhood. 



I might pass on to speak of other weeds, common in most 

 parts of England, but apparently rare about Bath, especially the 

 Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum), met wdth in only one 

 or two localities, and of uncertain appearance even there. There 

 is likewise the Corn Marygold ( Chrysantheirmm segehim), stated 

 in the " Flora Bathoniensis," as in the case above alluded to, to 

 be "frequent in cornfields," wliich I never met with myself, 

 though it has been occasionally seen by other botanists. Samolus 

 valerandi is said in like manner to be "frequent in watery 

 places," whereas it seems to be decidedly rare. Mr. Flower 

 informs me he has observed it in one locality below Combe 

 Down, but I know of no one else who has ever found it. The 

 three following species also, Seneblcra coronopus, Malva rotundifoUa, 

 Geranium pusillum, not generally esteemed rare plants, are much 

 less common about Bath, especially the two last, than in most 

 other places. 



On the other hand, to reverse the picture, we have two or 

 three species, usually accounted rare or local, found in this 

 neighbourhood in the greatest profusion. Of the Ornithogalum 

 pyrenaicuM I have already spoken. But there is likewise the 

 Geranium rotundifolium, found on old walls, banks, and other 

 waste ground, almost everywhere ; and yet more plentiful the 

 Mercurialis annu/i, one of the greatest pests in our gardens, which 

 it is next to impossible to get rid of. It is singular how the 

 last mentioned plant seems to be confined to the ■s'icinity of a few 

 old towns, such as Bath, Bristol, London, Eochester, and Norwich ; 

 shewing that even in the vegetable world we have our regular 

 town, as well as country residents, indifierent as manj' species 

 may be to either. 



But I must not trespass too much upon your time. Whether 

 I have said anything this evening to lead you to take an interest 



