230 wo AD, [August, 



Referring to these, and having regard to the plants found fos- 

 silized, it might be ascertained Avhich of them were extinct, and 

 Avhich were not, and the circumstances of their growth. It is 

 well known that the plants which first grew in Britain must have 

 been at the period when dry land appeared above the ocean, and 

 these were produced from seeds deposited by the agency of birds 

 and animals, and brought from land which at that period was 

 near or adjacent to the island. 



Seeds of different kinds would germinate and grow according 

 to the temperature of the earth's surface, affected by the relative 

 position of land and water. 



We are often told of plants being produced in a spot where a 

 well had been sunk, from the earth thrown up containing seeds 

 which had been buried many years, or even centuries. 



The vitality of seed in a sepulchral bed has been proved ; and 

 the grains of wheat found in some of the Egyptian mummies 

 have vegetated and produced seed. 



In comparing the Flora of different counties of England as they 

 are now known, we might be led to inquire which of these coun- 

 ties were the first to produce particular plants, and if such coun- 

 ties are situated nearer to the Continent than other counties are ; 

 and also to a further inquiry, how far the Flora of parts near to 

 continents agrees with the Flora of other parts of the island. I 

 hope these observations may lead some of your intelligent contri- 

 butors to write a paper on this subject. S. B. 



Note. Among other books to be referred to for early names 

 of plants, I would direct attention to the following : — ' An Antient 

 British Herbal; or Description of divers Plants of this Island, 

 observed by that famous physician Scribonius Largus, when he 

 attended the Emperor Claudius in his expedition into Britany.' 



WOAD. 



On c€7'tain Localities for the Woad (Isatis tinctoria) . 

 By Edwin Lees, F.L.S., etc. 



It appears to me to be important, in the case of rare or doubt- 

 fully native British plants, to record the localities where they are 



