TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 105 



prefaced by a short introduction, descriptive of the principal geological features of 

 the district. He then showed the course of the various riversheds, and the work 

 which has been done in each. The Wharfe, Upper Aire, and Calder are the best 

 worked for mosses, the others having been scarcely touched upon yet. 



Many rarities have already been found; and when the other more southern dis- 

 tricts have been thoroughly examined, the author was of opinion that the list of 

 Mosses would be largely increased. He then described a few of the principal new 

 and rarer species, and concluded by recommending the West-Kidiug botanists to 

 direct their studies to the Mosses. ^_^ 



On, the Subalpine Vegetation of Kilimanjaro, E. Africa *. 

 By Dr. J. D. Hooker, C.B., F.R.S. 



Bimrtrhi on Plants collected by the Voyager Dampier. 

 By Professor La.wson, M.A. 



On a Course of Practical Instruction in Botany. By Professor Lvwson, M.A. 



On the Vegetation of Bermuda. By H. N. Moselet. 



On some of the Changes going on in the South-African Vegetation through the 

 Introduction of the Merino Sheep, By John Shaw. 



The author commenced by referring to the fact that civilization and Merino 

 sheep had introduced one obnoxious plant (the Xantldum spinosicm) into the 

 sheep-walks of South Africa. As its achenes get into the wool and seriously 

 injure its value, the Government have legislated for its compulsory destruction. 

 In the Orange-River Free State, where there was no legislation on the weed until 

 lately, wool had become so filled with these that its value was deteriorated nearly 

 50 per cent. Sheep also, in conseqiience of the overstocking of farms in the inland 

 districts of the Cape, are doing very serious injury directly by eating down the 

 better and more agreeable plants, giving range to poisonous and bitter ones, and 

 even so changing the climate as to make the country better suited to the plants of 

 the neighbouring regions, which march into the sheep-walks to aid the sheep in 

 thrusting out and extirpating the indigenous flora. 



After sketching the distribution of plants in South Africa, the author went on 

 to particularize the character of the prairie-like midlands of the Cape, -wdth their 

 luxuriant grass and vegetation. Since sheep have been introduced the grass has 

 fast disappeared, the ground (by the hurried march of the sheep for food amongst 

 a scattered bush) has become beaten and hardened, and the seasonable rains which 

 do come are accordingly allowed to run off the surface without soaking into the 

 ground to the extent formerly the case. The country is thus drying up, the foun- 

 tains becoming smaller and smaller, and the prospect is very clear that the midland 

 regions will turn into a semi-desert. Indeed the plants of the singular regions 

 known as the Karoo, in the south-west of the Cape (which from its position is 

 locked in to the north and south by mountains, and is favoured little by rain), are 

 travelling northwards rapidly and occupying this now similar dry tract of country. 

 The herbage is essentially a Karoo one already. It contains most prominently 

 Karoo plants, such as the Chrysocomas and the Mytroj)appi. 



The author further referred to the great increase of poisonons and bitter herbage. 

 It is dangerous to have stock in many farms, which formerly were free from any in- 

 jurious herbs. Long stretches of tlie colony are abundantly occupied hjMelicce, which 

 are eaten by the oxen and cause intoxication, to the serious hmdrauce of transport. 



* Printed in extenso in the Journal of tho Ltnnean Society. 



1873. 



