1 88 LAKES AND RIVERS, 



Calluna vulgarls) are very abundant, and about seven 

 Orchids, two Sundews, the Bog Pimpernel (Anagallis 

 tenella\ the pale-flowered Butterwort (Pinguicula lusi- 

 tanica), and two species of Cotton Grass. In a Devon- 

 shire bog I once noticed this plant growing in such 

 abundance that I was able, in two or three visits, to fill 

 a bag with the downy heads. I collected altogether 

 about a pound weight. About forty years ago an old 

 gentleman in the north of Devon ploughed some acres 

 of boggy land which he sowed with the seeds of this 

 cotton grass, which in due time produced an abun- 

 dant crop. The old gentleman published a pamphlet 

 in which he proposed that England should thus grow 

 her own cotton. He sent examples to spinners for 

 trial, but they declared that the fibre would not card. 

 As the Exe approaches the sea, its marshy banks are 

 lined with the Sea Purslain (Atriplex portulacoides, 

 Lin.), the Wild Celery (Apium graveolens\ and the 

 Marsh Samphire (Salicornia herbaced). The Exe is 

 a salmon river, and abounds in eels, roach, dace, and 

 about twenty-five other species of fish. These vary 

 according to the part of the river examined. 



The Ouse, a small river of Sussex, is conspicuous 

 for the number of beautiful plants which may be 

 gathered on its banks in the neighbourhood of Lewes. 

 The fishing is inconspicuous. The tide comes up to 

 Lewes, from where it enters the sea at Seaford. The 

 chalky soil favours the growth of certain plants. The 

 marshes of Lewes possess almost all the marsh plants 

 of the South of England, in addition to those charac- 

 teristic of chalky formations. Hence the number is 

 greater than is usually found. Among the less com- 



