312 soNCHus PALUSTRis. [Octobei', 



base Aster Tripolium, Glaux maritima, Arenaria marina, and 

 other salt-marsh plants abound. Silybum Marianum is plentiful 

 near the new brick building above mentioned. 



Nearly a mile down the river, below the powder-magazine 

 (the station above described is above the powder-magazine, be- 

 tween it and Woolwich), there is another colony of Arundines, 

 not Arundines Cami, but the genuine harundines of Clusius, 

 and in this second and smaller mud-flat there are more Sonchi, 

 probably the genuine species, but it would be worth while to be 

 certain. At all events, it is now quite certain that this rare 

 plant has not been lost in this vicinity, neither by the extension 

 of buildings for shipping and warehouse concerns, nor has it 

 gradually perished by the want of pure water, as the Huttonia 

 has or is gradually perishing in Letchmere, near the Wands- 

 worth road : it has not been exterminated by the rapacious 

 plant-seekers. There is plenty here to satisfy the reasonable 

 demands of botanists for centuries to come. 



One plant has disappeared — it is to be hoped only for a time — 

 viz. Polypogon littoralis. This rare species, before the Crimean 

 war, grew in plenty near the butts. It perished, like many 

 better things, during that disastrous conflict. This is no riddle, it 

 is as plain as the connection between the building of Tenterden 

 Steeple and the choking-up of Sandwich Haven by the drift 

 from the Goodwin Sands. 



It is admitted by all good botanists that the gratification of 

 giving is at least equal to that of getting ; that the pleasure of 

 communicating information about a locality for a rare plant is 

 at least equal to that of discovering it. Country botanists, who 

 do not contemplate a journey to London in the month of August, 

 will find no difficulty in getting specimens from some of their 

 correspondents who live in or near London. The commercial 

 value of botanical specimens is absolutely nil, and perhaps it is 

 not desirable to enhance their marketable importance, but as 

 a medium of friendly intercommunication they cannot be over- 

 estimated. They yield a pleasure to the receiver, and impart a 

 double delight to the giver. There is truth in the old saw — 

 " Gif Gaf makes gude friends ;" in giving specimens of rare 

 plants, the liberal tendencies of our being, the natural human 

 sympathies, are indulged at a very moderate expense. 



A. 



