BOTANISTS AT AUSTWICK. 
Cc. A. CHEETHAM, 
The idea of sectional meetings at places of special interest 
to the section involved seems to be on right lines ; last year 
the Botanical Section* investigated the alien flora at Dewsbury 
and Mirfield, and this being so successful, a further meeting 
was arranged at Austwick. The notes on pp. 246-247 in the 
August number cite some problems to be dealt with, and as 
a result of the excursion and the discussions in the field and 
during the evenings, some good work should now be possible. 
Dr. Woodhead’s experience in field research work was an asset 
of value, and his suggestions put the plan of future observation 
on a better footing. 
The Silene maritima was first visited. It grows luxuriantly 
on the limestone cliff faces, the stems quite shrubby, and 
although everything seemed fitting, it does not appear to 
spread from the vertical rock to the pavement above or the 
scree below. No reason could be assigned for this, unless it 
is the destruction by the feeding of sheep or rabbits ; further 
notes as to this might be available from the coast stations, 
where the plant is abundant. 
The peat deposits on the limestone summit of Moughton 
were examined next. Small sections were opened up in a 
varied series of positions, and a considerable uniformity was 
noticed :—the peat say up to r8ins. thick ; then a very fine grey 
sand, in fact almost a clay, some 3ins. thick, full of rootlets ; 
and below this a thin but very definite layer of ‘ moorpan ’ 
hard and resisting to the trowel, and with a metallic feel when 
cut with a knife; below this the soil was iron-stained, but 
gradually passing into fine yellow compact sand which varied 
in thickness up to I2ins. or I8ins., resting on the limestone 
rock. 
A point which attracted special attention was the scarcity 
of rootlets below the ‘ pan.’ 
Other interesting plants were seen in the locality. Solo- 
mon’s Seal and Liles of the Valley on the scars and in crevices 
of the pavement, and Juniper in sheltered places attains to 
a height of ro ft. with a girth of 2rins. at gins. above ground; 
in places the rigid fern was very abundant. 
The next excursion was toa very different type of vegetation. 
Austwick Moss shows the succession of plants which have 
gradually reduced a large area of lake and swamp down to 
the present remnant, where the only open water is in recently 
cut turbaries. These are to be seen in varying degrees of 
* Of the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union. 


1916 Dec, 1. 
