BOTANY 



river, and a little chalk in the east and south. The growth of 

 London and its suburbs has destroyed former stations for many good 

 plants. About Woolwich, Plumstead and Erith aliens are especially 

 numerous. 



2. Lies east of district i, south of which its border follows the 

 Surrey boundary to a point between Tatsfield and Brasted. Hence it 

 runs east along the Pilgrims' Way, past Chevening, Otford and Wrot- 

 ham, to the Medway at Snodland ; then, turning north, descends this 

 river to its junction with the Thames ; thence west to Erith. Principally 

 chalk, with Lower Eocene beds, of which the Hundred of Hoo mainly 

 consists, and a considerable amount of alluvium about the two estuaries. 

 This is, botanically, the richest tract in Kent (and perhaps in all Britain), 

 owing to its great diversity of soil and elevation and its submaritime 

 coast. The southern half is well wooded and sparsely populated. 



3. From Rochester down the Medway to Sheerness ; thence (in- 

 cluding Sheppey) along the sea to the channel separating Thanet from 

 the mainland, and south to Sarr railway bridge ; from this point west 

 along the line, through Canterbury, Faversham and Sittingbourne to the 

 Medway. Lower Eocene, with much alluvium in the north and a very 

 little chalk. There are extensive salt marshes, particularly westwards, 

 some of which are not yet thoroughly explored, and a large area of 

 woodland stretches west and north of Canterbury. The flora, though 

 interesting, is not very varied. 



4. The Isle of Thanet ; bounded on the south by the winding 

 Stour. Entirely chalk, east from Birchington and round to Pegwell 

 Bay, where there is a band of Lower Eocene (Thanet beds) extending 

 for about four miles westward, with alluvium in the west and south. 

 The smallest district. Excepting the coast from Sandwich to Ramsgate, 

 it does not seem to have been much worked of late, and should repay 

 further search. 



5. From the sea, south of districts 4 and 3, to Canterbury ; then 

 south-east along the high road by Barham and Lydden to Dover, and 

 north to Sandwich. Chalk, with extensive Lower Eocene beds about 

 Canterbury and Ash ; alluvium near the Stour and its tributaries, and a 

 long stretch of blown sand from Deal to Sandwich. The coast-flora is 

 very interesting, and has been thoroughly investigated ; the central (and 

 less attractive) part is not so well known. 



6. Situated to the south of district 3 ; its border runs from Roches- 

 ter south along the Medway to Burham, thence south-east below the 

 downs, through Detling, HoUingbourne and Eastwell to Wye ; following 

 the railway north-east to Chilham, and thence north to the junction 

 with district 3 near Lower Ensinge. Chalk, with outliers of Lower 

 Eocene in the north, and some alluvium in the river valleys. Well 

 wooded in the west and south-east, with a typical chalk flora. 



7. Bordered on the north-east and north-west by districts 5 and 6, 

 and from Dover to East Wear Bay by the Channel ; thence west and 

 north-west by the road through Beachborough, Postling and Pickersdean 



47 



