64 



first introduction of any of the plants now naturalised in the island. 



The American Waterweed appears, from inquiries I have made, 

 not to have been noticed before the year 1862. 



The seeds of the Prairie Grass were brought here in 1865. 



The IBathurst Burr was first seen in the neighbourhood of Mel- 

 bourne in 1857 ; and in New Zealand in 1863. It must have 

 reached Tasmania, I imagine, at a later date than that, but when, 

 I have no means of knowing. 



As may be imagined, England has supplied us with by far the 

 larger number of our Aliens. With regard to those species which 

 are not of British origin, I have placed the names of their proper 

 locality against them ; and on reverting to the list, it appears 

 that out of the whole number imported into the island, no less than 

 138 belong to the Old Country, leaving 24 only to be looked for 

 elsewhere. The south of Europe and the countries bordering on 

 the Mediterranean Sea have given 16 of these to our catalogue ; 

 of the remaining eight, four have wandered here from the Cape of 

 Good Hope, three from America, and one from the West Indies. 



I do not mean to imply that these plants have travelled direct to 

 Tasmania from the localities intimated. On the contrary, many 

 of them have probably reached our island by short stages, 

 taking their time on the road, and halting in favourable spots. 

 Others again have crossed the ocean to the Continent of Australia 

 direct, have settled there for a while, and then, in the true spirit of 

 emigration, have sent their offspring across Bass's Straits, or have 

 come round in ships to Hobart Town. For example, the South 

 American Xanthium spinositm had obtained an evil notoriety in 

 Australia under the name of "Bathurst burr," long before it 

 Bet foot in the neighbourhood of Launcesfcon. Some species 

 we know, have been purposely introduced. A pretty 

 yellow oxalis (0. cernua) from South Africa, the wild 

 rocket (Diplotaxis temdfolia) from England, a worthless onion 

 (Nothoscordum fragrans) from South Africa, with some others, were 

 originally brought as seeds to the garden of the Royal Society. 

 They have, however, for some time altogether repudiated the 

 gardener's paternal care, and seem quite capable of maintaining 

 themselves. The oxalis and the rocket are gradually working their 

 way to the outer world ; the onion, however, seems loth to leave 

 the snug quarters provided for it ; but to make up for its stay-at- 

 home qualities, it is spreading largely among the flower beds, and 

 causing much trouble and annoyance. 



It is scarcely necessary to say that most, if not all, of the useful 

 grasses and clovers owe their introduction to a spirit of improve- 

 ment, and not to accident. 



Agajn, the presence of many species which have not been brought 

 here with a useful or sBsthetic object, may be accounted for with 

 great certainty. Every bushel of com that has been at any time 

 imported from England was almost sure to contain the seed of the 

 common spurrey provided it had been grown in a sandy soil. 

 Every pet canary bird, that arrives in the island, conveys in its food- 

 tin the germs of the pretty canary grass, which now abounds on 

 our rubbish heaps and road sides. 



The introduction of the marigold, the mint, the fennel, the water- 

 cress, and other Gommon favourites of the garden or the table, may 



