67 



purely a chalk plant ; on any other but a chalky soil it inevitably 

 sickens and dies out. 



Spurrey (in botany, Spergula arvensis), another of our aliens, is a 

 plant with a sort of two-fold character. In England it is despised 

 and treated as a mere weed ; whereas in most parts of Europe 

 it is held in great favour as food for cattle. I have seen many 

 acres devoted to its culture in France and Germany. Its value 

 consists in its capability of growing on worthless soil. 

 It is nowhere more at home than in a pure sand. Where 

 grass and clover are stunted and useless, spurrey finds 

 abundant nourishment, and clothes the ground with its branched 

 stems and white starlike flowers. The finest specimens I have 

 gathered came from the fields of almost pure sand, lining the 

 shore at Kangaroo Point. The Germans distinguish two species, 

 one of which under cultivation is said to attain a height of 

 two or three feet, and must afi"ord a large amount of fodder. I 

 have never myself seen it above one foot high. But it might be 

 worth the attention of agriculturists ; as there must be many a sandy 

 corner, especially near the coast, now quite worthless, which sown 

 with spurrey, would afford a fair amount of sheep feed. 



Among aliens of minor importance may be noted the following: — 



The root of the common dandelion is wellknown in medicine 

 under the name of taraxacum, and valued for its diuretic qualities. 



In France the leaves are blanched, and form no mean addition 

 to a salad, being crisp and slightly bitter. 



The opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) is scarcely yet established, 

 as I have found very few plants in a wild state. The properties 

 of its seeds and of the juice extracted from the stem are too well- 

 known to need description. 



Another valuable member of the pharmacopeia — though at the 

 same time an intensly poisonous one — is the henbane (Hyoscyamus 

 niger). It exists sparingly in waste places, but might easily be 

 brought under cultivation. 



The fruit of the Caper Spurge is often in Europe pickled 

 and used in lieu of the genuine caper ; but belonging as it does to 

 the family of Euphorbia, it must always be looked upon with sus- 

 picion. The plant is still a casual only in the island. 



The chicory {Ckliormm intyhus) I have found but once on the 

 bank of the railway just beyond Glenorchy. Whether it could 

 be turned to profit here I have no means of knowing. The root, 

 as you know, has of late years become a regular article of com- 

 merce, for the purpose of mingling with cofiee. 



I need scarcely say to any member present who passed his boy- 

 hood in the old country, how welcome the blackberry is to youthful 

 palates, though I fear it will not be so welcome to the agriculturist, 

 to whom it is better known as the bramble. It abounds on the 

 northern coast and in the Ringarooma district ; it is also spreading 

 widely in the country about the Huon. 



Even the much-abused briar has its services. Horses are very 

 fond of its bright red fruit, of which it bears an enormous quantity ; 

 and a friend lately told me that some animals of his, which had 

 the run of paddocks full of briars during the late long drought, 

 retained their condition entirely through the nourishing properties 

 of the ** hips," which they will at all times greedily devour. 



