48 MAiANTHEMUM BiFOLiuM. [FebruavT/, 



7. Convallaria verticillata. 11. Eosa villosa. 



8. Convallaria bifolia. 12. Helleborus viridis. 



9. Paris quadrifolia. 13. Lathyrus Nissolia. 

 10. Sorbus domestica. 



The first plant in this list (No. 1), quoted from Mr. Park's 

 history, and resting solely on Mr. Hunter's authority, is one of 

 the most doubtful or uncertain of all the dubious British species. 

 Einpetrum nigrum (No. 2) is truly native, but does not now 

 grow near Hampstead, or surely it would have been' recorded by 

 the many botanists who have resorted thither during the last 

 century and a half."^ Mr. Hunter very probably observed Myo- 

 surus minimus (No. 3), but not in the wood. The habitat is 

 possibly erroneously entered by the historian, whose botanical 

 knowledge was probably neither very extensive nor exact. I 

 will take the liberty of acquitting Mr. Hvmter of this mistake. 

 This gentleman was too well acquainted with rural affairs to have 

 mistaken an agrarial weed for a sylvan plant. 



That/Sa7/a verna (No. 4), which grows here abundantly, may 

 have crept into the text instead of Scilla nutans, good-natured 

 people will readily admit. 



Two out of the four Convallarias (Nos. 5 and 8) still grow in 

 Ken Wood, and they are living testimonies of the accuracy of 

 the gentleman by whom their occurrence there was first re- 

 corded. 



That the other two (Nos. 6 and 7) are not there, who will 

 venture to say ? 



The way to reach the only remaining station of the Maianthe- 

 mum is by the gardens of Ken Wood, and to the gardener or 

 steward, Mr. Cockburn, I have always applied when I wished to 

 revisit this station. But many other lovers of rare plants as well 

 as myself are indebted to this worthy official for permission to go 

 up the hill to look at the plant. I beg to thank him publicly for 

 his courtesy. 



If the botanical visitor be an entire stranger, he should request 

 the aid of one of the gardeners ; and if this be not obtainable, he 

 should follow the gravel walk to the reservoir at the end of the 



* Dr. Soame remarked (1734) — " The Apothecaries' Company very seldom miss 

 coming to Hampstead every spring, and here have their herborizing feast ; and I have 

 heard them often say that they have found a greater variety of curious and useful 

 plants near and about Hampstead than m any other place" (Dr. Soame's Ana- 

 lysis of the Hampstead Waters, p. 27). 



