240 KENTISH BOTANY. [AugUSt, 



heath and Parson's Green. The variety M. apiculata has very 

 recently been detected at Battersea, on a gravelly heap of soil 

 lately laid there to raise the level of the new park. This park is 

 nearly opposite the steam-boat Cadogan Pier, and close to the 

 Prince Albert public-house, on the Surrey side of the river. 



Before we reached this part of the beach, we lighted on a fine 

 colony of young plants of Lavatera arborea (all seedlings) , pro- 

 duced from the rejectamenta of the adjoining gardens. It was 

 observed in a cottage garden on our way from Canterbury to 

 Sandwich, and it is probably more or less cultivated about Deal 

 and Walmer. The Lavatera will probably remain undisturbed 

 in this locality, and it would be gratifying to learn (if any reader 

 of this who resides near Walmer, or ever goes thither to botanize 

 would inform us) that it is still growing in that place. Several of 

 the plants were in flower, some in fruit, but the greater portion 

 were seedlings. 



Between Walmer and Kingsdown we looked vigilantly and 

 anxiously for Lathyrus maritimus ; and we had the gratification 

 of seeing this fine and rare plant in great perfection and profu- 

 sion also, scattered over the pebbly beach, not far from Kings- 

 fact of these plants growing on ai'tificial erections, in determining either their 

 non-nationality or their nativity. More confirmatory evidence than the mere fact 

 of then* growth on walls, in quarrries, and by the coast, must be adduced before 

 their ahen origin can be satisfactorily established. 



In our excursion along the greatest part of the rock-bound coast of Kent, our 

 attention was much engaged on these points ; and we were.inchned to admit that 

 there is no valid proof of alienism which can be estabhshed against these plants 

 from the stations where they are now seen. Historical testimony might decide the 

 point, but this is negative, not positive. 



Parietaria officinalis grew everywhere, botli at the foot of the chalk rock and 

 at a distance from it ; so did Eupatorium cannahinum. Linaria Cymbalaria and 

 Centranthus ruber, neither of them uncommon in Kent, grew in depressions on 

 the shingly beach. Cheiranthus Cheiri was struggling with the rank vegetation of 

 Thistles and large Umbellifers, and had well estabhshed itself on the earthen ram- 

 part of Dover Castle, far enough from eitlier rocks or walls. This latter plant 

 appeared here and there on the verge of the cliff, all along from the South Fore- 

 land to the town of Dover. It probably grew on the rock below, which was not 

 approachable ; it certainly grew well on the tliin covering of sod which topped 

 the chalk rock. 



"We were unable to detect, in this locality at least, any natural indications 

 of ahenism in the appearance and circumstances of the Wallflower. Botanists 

 have universally agreed to maintain that it is an alien in England ; but it is not 

 easy to discover on what grounds, except that of contemporary testimony, which 

 is often conflicting, and not always supported by Nature herself. 



