/y ^ 



S3 



latter being often used for medicinal purposes ; the cud- 

 weeds, growing in the woods and copses; the groundsels and 

 thistles, prominent pests of the cultivated lands as well as 

 the woods ; the chicory or succory, with its blue flowers, 

 standing upright by the waysides ; and the lettuces, from 

 which our edible forms of that plant originate. The com- 

 posites were found in the dryest and most exposed 

 situations, and those enumerated were but a few 

 representatives of a very large family. The umbeUates 

 were also a large family, but not of much general interest, 

 save the deadly hemlock known to nearly all, and as repre- 

 senting our vegetable carrots and parsnips and the condi- 

 mentary seeds used in household economy. The polygonums 

 were represented by the docks and the pretty pink plants 

 which crowned the mud banks by the lake ; the persicaria, 

 with its black-spotted leaves, the black spots being fabled 

 to represent the blood of some unfortunate deity of ancient 

 times, who died whilst hunting near the plant which was 

 represented to have retained the mark ever since. The 

 goosefoots were dull, heavy, and uninteresting plants, fre- 

 quenting corn-fields, but the favourite localities of which 

 were the muddy shores of our island. The gentians, famed 

 for their tonic properties, were mostly very pretty plants. 

 The Oenotheras furnished the willow herbs, used by the 

 Kamtschadales to brew intoxicating drinks, and also eaten 

 when young like asparagus. To this family belongs also 

 the enchanter's nightshade. The campanulas were repre- 

 sented by the " Canterbury bells " and the pretty little 

 " hare bells " so fond of such downs as those of Eastwell 

 and Wye. The plants gathered during the excursion com- 

 prised about 90 species. 



Mr. Masters, also made a few remarks descriptive of 

 some of the plants gathered during the day. 



Mr. FuHLET, in complimentary terms, proposed a vote of 

 thanks to W. Harris, Esq., and Thos. Thurston, Esq., for 

 the able and interesting papers to which the company had 

 just listened. 



