The BR TTS OH ER BAY ae, 
urn, as they do: they furround the flalk, grow- 
ing feveral at each joint; but, as they are broader, 
they are alfo fewer than in the common fpurrey. 
The flowers ftand at the tops of the ftalks; 
and they are larger than thofe of the common 
kind, and of a milk white, 
The feed-veffel is large, and roundifh, or oval ; 
and the feeds are numerous and fmall: they’ are 
black, and have the edge white. 
It is common on fandy grounds in Ireland, 
and in the weft of England; and flowers in April. 
Ray calls it Aine fpergula difa femine mem- 
branaceo fufco, Dillenius, Spergula annua femine 
feliaceo nigro circulo membranaceo albo cinéto. 
4. Sea Spurrey. 
Spergula maritima. 
The root is long, flender, and furnithed with 
myany fibres, 
The ftalks are numerous, upright, and fix or 
eight inches high: they are of a pale green, very 
much branched toward the top, and jointed at 
{mall diftances. 
The leaves are numerous, and ftand round the 
“ftalk at the joints, in form of the rays of a ftar : 
they are oblong, narrow, and of a pale green. 
The flowers grow at the tops of the branches 
in great numbers; and they are fmall and purple. 
The feed-veffel is large, and the feeds are light 
and brown. . 
It is common on our fea-coafts, and flowers in 
July. r , 
: C. Bauhine calls it Alfne fpergule facie media, 
Others, Sagina. fpergula minor, and Spergula ma- 
rina. Our people call it Sea fpurrey, and Salt- 
marfb [purrey. 
5. Dwarf fea Spurrey. 
Spergula maritima minima. 
The root is long and flender. 
The ftalks are numerous, and four inches 
/ long: they frequently all trail upon the ground, 
but fometimes a few of them are erect. 
The leaves are narrow, oblong, fmall, and of 
a pale green. — 
The flowers are minute, and of a bluith purple, 
The feed-veffels are {mall, and the feeds dufky, 
but edged with a white very narrow circle of a 
membranaceous matter, as the others. 
The leaves in this plant are very nutnerous $ 
but the joints of the ftalk are much more diftant 
than in the others; fo that more of it is | 
feen. . 
Tc is common in our falt marthes, and flowers 
in May. 
Dillenius calls it Spergula maritima flore parvo 
ceruleo femine vario. We firft obferved it on 
Sheepy ifland. 
The virtues of thefe feveral plants are trifling ; 
but their ufes may be very great. 
Our farmers, who ufed to go in a very limited 
tract of hufbandry, have of late years introduced 
from other countries many new products, by 
the affiftance of which they change their crops 
upon the fame ground very happily, avoid the 
former neceffity of fallow-feafons; and add vaftly 
to their profits, : 
Among the other ufeful plants cultivated in 
the neighbouring countries is the common Spurrey 
this makes a very wholefome and rich food for the 
horned cattle: it is therefore worth more notice 
in England. But there is another {pecies, the 
common fea fpurrey, which has not been yet culti- 
vated any where, but might be in many places 
to.a great advantage, 
The fea-coaft is the natural foil for this plant ; 
and it would therefore be very proper, and very 
beneficial to the farmer to fow it on fuch lands 
as, lying very near the fea, will not bear any 
other crop to advantage. F ’ 
There is a vaft quantity of this land in the 
kingdom, which at prefent lets for very little, 
and yields very little; but if this plant were ins 
troduced upon it, would be of great value. Its 
qualities are the fame in all refpects with thofe of 
common fpurrey. ‘ 
Th ENDof tle NINTH CLASS. 
N° XIX. Bbb ts Hee 
