166 BOTANICAL NOTES, NOTICES, AND QUERIES. \JuJy , 



evident rudiments both of stamens and germen in the centre of the 

 bundle." — Br. BromJieWs 'Flora Vectensis' pp. 34;, 35. 



BaRBABEA PRjECOX. 



" This species is generally thought to have been introduced to Europe 

 from the New World, whence the names of American or BeUeisle Cress 

 (fi-om the Straits of that name between Labrador and Newfoundland). 

 Be that as it may, no plant is more thoroughly naturalized amongst us 

 than the present, and in no part of Britain perhaps does it abound more 

 than in this island. In America, Barbarea prcecox extends beyond the 

 Arctic Circle. It affords an excellent spring salad, very superior to the 

 common Winter Cress, as was remarked to me by my friend the Eev. 

 William Darwin Tox, who, having been accustomed to the use of the latter 

 in Derbyshire, on coming to reside in this island having unknowingly 

 substituted the former and more abundant species here, though puzzled to 

 account for the difference, was immediately sensible of having made an 

 exchange for the better. The taste is much more pungent and Cress-like, 

 and Mr. R. Loe of Newchurch tells me it is often substituted by the 

 people of this island for the common Water Cress, being known by the 

 opposite cognomen of Land Cress." — Idem. 



Botany of the Lakes. 

 The residts of Mr. Woods's excursion are that " the mountains about 

 the Lakes of Cumberland and Westmoreland offer by no means a rich har- 

 vest to the botanist ; but it is well," he adds, " to know what places are 

 unproductive, in order not to lose time in examining what has been already 

 examined in vain. The points to which I would direct the attention of 

 the futm'e touiist are some micaceous rocks on the north side of Skiddaw, 

 at about half the ascent. . . . Next to these in point of interest is the 

 district about Helvellyn, and to the south and south-east of that moun- 

 tain lying between the roads from Wythburn to Ambleside and from Am- 

 bleside to Patterdale. . . . Perhaps the mountains above Coniston might 

 be visited with advantage, and also those to the right of the road over 

 Kirkstone from Ambleside to Patterdale. ... I would recommend any 

 botanist who wishes to ascend Cross PeU to take the little Gill which sepa- 

 rates Cross Fell from Dun Fell, and Cumberland from Westmoreland." 



" Geranium pyrenaicum is a plant which occurs in several places in the 

 neighbourhood of towns, especially in a light but fertile soil, and it seems 

 to be increasing, but I doubt if it be anywhere an original plant of the 

 country." — Jos. Woods, F.L.S., in Com. Bot. Mag. vol. i. p. 295. 



This extract, though not from a very recent pubKcation, may be new to 

 some of our readers. We publish it for the benefit of Lake tourists, to 

 whom it may be useful ; and we also venture to hint that if they find any 

 .novelties in the botanical department, we hope they will not forget the 

 ' Phytologist.' 



HiCKOUY. 



" The Indians of Florida hold in great esteem all kinds of sweet Hickory- 

 nuts. They crack the nuts and beat them in mortars, then boil in water 



