788 MODIFICATIONS OF ASPECTS OF ORGANIC NATURE 



suffer least ; for instance, com and wheat do well where nothing else can, and perhaps 

 the exhalations in question may even tend to ripen them. An increasing deterioration 

 of the atmosphere in towns and mining districts may be estimated by means of plants 

 as follows : — i. In the smallest degree of impurity, trees are destitute of the leafy 

 lichens, and Ericse, the Scotch fir, and the larch die. 2. Next, the common laurel, 

 the Deodara cedar, the Irish arbutus, the laurustinus, and the yew die. 3. The 

 araucaria, the thuia, the common cedar, the niezereon, and the Portugal laurel die. 

 4. The common holly, the rhododendron, the oak, and the elm die. 5. Annuals still 

 live, and the almond, poplars, and many roses thrive, fruit-trees are barren, peas 

 unproductive. 6. Hieracia, Beseda lutea, the elder, some saxifrages and sedums, with 

 many syngenesious and cruciferous weeds, still luxuriate.' 



The mountain and moorland plants are most, just as the nettle, 

 the elder, the shepherd's purse, the sow-thistle are least susceptible 

 of antihygienic influences ; the former as well as the latter set of 

 organisms showing the influence of habituation, both alike being 

 unable to ' leave their place of birth ; they cannot live in other 

 earth,' or rather air. The presence of the former would be an 

 infallible sign on the hygienometer ; the presence of the latter 

 encourages us not to despair ^. 



^ That man has sometimes the power of undoing the mischief he has done, even by 

 the somewhat perilous, and often mischievous, action of legislation, a precis of the 

 evidence taken and given before Royal Commissions on noxious vapours, and em- 

 bodied in a Blue Book of last year's (1878) date, will abundantly show. This precis 

 I take from a letter signed 'Edward Sullivan,' in the 'Times,' December 2, 1878. 

 In this letter Mr. Sullivan says, in summing up for the defence of the alkali 

 manufacturers : — 



'As regards the injury done to the picturesque value of land by alkali manu- 

 facturers, I am afraid there is no doubt they must plead guilty. In some cases, 

 especially in that of Sir Richard Brooke, the damage is most distressing ; but there is 

 a concurrence of evidence from Widnes, Weston, Runcorn, St. Helen's, Flint, and 

 Hebburn, that during the last four years, since the passing of the Alkali Act of 1874, 

 the damage has very much diminished, and that in districts where the number of 

 works has not increased the present damage is inappreciable. 



•At page 10 of the Report, Major Cross states he lives a mile and a half from the 

 centre of Widnes. Since the passing of the Act of 1874, he had a fair crop of fruit, 

 and roses and flowers grew luxuriantly. 



• Page II (Runcorn). Mr. Wigg stated he had planted 1800 trees round his house, 

 about a mile and a half from the nearest works, " which were all growing very well 

 indeed." 



* Page 1 1 (St. Helen's). Mr. Gamble produced two photographs of a plantation 

 1000 yards from the works, one taken in 1862 for the use of the Lords' Committee ; 

 the other, taken in 1876 at the same spot, showing a manifest improvement in growth 

 and condition of trees. 



'Page II (Flint). Mr. Muspratt stated that subsequently to the Act of 1874 

 vegetation was not affected at a greater distance than 200 yards. He instanced 

 gardens containing elms and other trees flourishing within 500 yards, and old oaks 

 growing luxuriantly within a mile of his works. 



