I860.] REVIEWS. ' 313 



The Leigh Chronicle, August Mh, 1860. 



The ' Phytologist' was recommenced, now nearly six years 

 ago, for the express purpose of encouraging the study of botany 

 amongst all classes of the community ; and therefore all notices 

 similar to that recorded in the ' Leigh Chronicle/ for which 

 hearty thanks are hereby tendered to the fair correspondent who 

 sent it, are particularly welcome. 



Some time during the latter part of July (July 28) a party of 

 the men of Lancashire who are devoted to the study of natural 

 objects, met to explore the botany of Mosley Common ; and they 

 appear to have succeeded to their hearts' content. 



The plants collected were numerous, and possibly some of them 

 are rare in the neighbourhood of Worsley, although they are far 

 from scarce in Middlesex and in the southern counties of Eng- 

 land. The following are some of the most interesting, viz. Vinca 

 minor, Convolvulus sepium, Moenchia erecta, Bidens tripartita 

 and B. cernua, Hypochceris glabra, AnachUris Alsinastrum — this 

 plant would have been a rarity anywhere in England fewer than 

 twenty years ago ; it has spread with marvellous rapidity, — Aco- 

 rus Calamus — this plant appears to be common in several places 

 near Leigh, — Veronica Anagallis, etc. etc. 



It is very good-natured of the zealous naturalists of Lancashire 

 to tell the readers of the ' Leigh Chronicle' that such plants as 

 Shepherd' s-purse, common Chickweed, common Mouse-ear, com- 

 mon Daisy, — favourites of both young and old, — common Yarrow, 

 and many equally common plants, grow on Mosley Common; 

 and it would be further satisfactory if they could tell us why 

 some of the plants are chronicled at all as growing there, when 

 it is notorious that they grow everywhere. A crabbed critic would 

 tell these amiable amateurs that they might have omitted such 

 species as the common Nettle, the Dog- Violet, common Bramble, 

 Dog- Rose, etc. etc. 



If these honest men would condescend to take a hint from a 

 practical botanist who has been a collector of plants during at 

 least forty years, and probably has written more on the subject of 

 local botany than any living naturalist, they might render their 



N. S, VOL. IV. 2 s 



