1859.] WANDSWORTH PLANTS. 347 



of being, is just as applicable to plants as to persons. The ques- 

 tion is not exclusively, Where was he born, and how or through 

 what agency did he reach this land ? A more important inquiry 

 is, What are his qualities, or what can he do? It may be of some 

 use to us, as it is of some interest, to know the history of the 

 migration or immigration of plants. This is a curious subject, 

 and withal generally very unsatisfactory. But the most useful 

 portion of the investigation is neither uncertain nor uninstruc- 

 tive. The question, " Is the plant good for any purpose ?" can 

 be easily answered. Is it likely to be permanent ? is a question 

 which time only can answer. But it is worth while to record its 

 appearance, in order that these two important questions may be 

 answered, or at least that some data may be given for their satis- 

 factory solution. If the immigrants be like the Thistles in Aus- 

 tralia, injurious weeds, it may be useful to the farmer to know 

 that he is threatened with a fresh agricultural pest. If the alien 

 be useful, as the Poa sudetica is honestly believed to be, it should 

 be cultivated. The famous Falkland Islands Tussac Grass, which, 

 as it was prognosticated, might make the fortunes of our west- 

 country farmers and Orkney lairds, has been utterly forgotten. 

 The Pampas Grass and the Holcus saccharatus have taken its place. 

 May they have a better fate ! 



Again, the spontaneous growth of these plants at Wandsworth 

 and elsewhere, proves that the atmospheric or meteoric condi- 

 tions of a part of this island at least, are not uncongenial to 

 plants whose home appears to be the south of Europe or the 

 basin of the Mediterranean. The causes which produced and are 

 producing (they are still in activity) the above-stated effects at 

 Wandsworth, are and have been in operation in other and dis- 

 tant parts of the country. The shores of the Itchin were ex- 

 amined only one season, and then for a short period ; but there 

 all the aliens observed were of the same species as those seen at 

 Wandsworth. But they were probably brought there from a dif- 

 ferent part of the Continent, and in goods of another description. 



At Huddersfield lately (see ' Phytologist ' for October, 1859), 

 many aliens have been detected on shoddy-heaps and on fields 

 manured with the refuse of the same. Some of those plants pro- 

 bably belong to the New World. One of them, at least, is a 

 West Indian. 



From other parts of the country, as Manchester, Nottingham, 

 Middleborough, etc., reports arrive from time to time of plant- 



