A new record for the district, Floating Spike Rush Scirpus fluitans L. 

 was found in a pond near Spot Lane. The Lesser Snapdragon Antirr- 

 hinum orontium L. appears to be increasing its range; it was found this 

 year growing by the roadside near Potters Corner. 



Knapweed Broomrape Orobanche elatior Sutton was refound on 

 its old site by the Pilgrims' Way, Westwell, where it has not been seen 

 for several years. The Common Broomrape Orobanche minor Smith 

 appeared but not as abundantly as usual, near Sevington. 



Near Hinxhill, in a wet field containing many ponds, the Water 

 Violet Hottonia palustris L. was again abundant and Narrow-leaved 

 Water Plantain Alisma lanceolatum Withering, Marsh Speedwell Veronica 

 scutellata L., Pink Water Speedwell Veronica catenata Pennell, Marsh- 

 wort Apium inundatum (L.) (a new record for the district) were locally 

 abundant. 



The tiny annual, ChafFweed Centunculus minimus L. was found in 

 Priory Wood, Ruckinge, also the pale blue-flowered Slender Speedwell 

 Veronica filiformis Smith a garden escape now becoming established in 

 the wild. Another introduced plant Himalayan Balsam Impatiens 

 glandulifera Royle (about twenty plants) flowered well beside a ditch 

 off Sandyhurst Lane. 



A surprising find in a field on Weald clay near Mersham, was a 

 colony of White Mullein Verbascum lychnitis L. — possibly chalk from 

 Westwell has been dumped there recently ! 



Several small plants of Gallant Soldier Galinsoga parviflora Cavan- 

 illes were found in October on Hothfield Common where huts recently 

 stood. This plant has become increasingly common in London and 

 is now spreading into Kent. It has this year been recorded near Maid- 

 stone and at Faversham. 



The Corn-Cockle Agrostemma githago L., now rare in cornfields 

 because of improved methods of seed cleaning, appeared last year on 

 a railway bank at Willesborough ; this year it has increased and may well 

 become established there as it is unlikely to be disturbed. 



A lovely sight at Willesborough this summer was a field of Chicory 

 Cichorium intybus L. in full bloom. Although often grown as a crop 

 on the Continent it is unusual in Kent. Next summer it will probably 

 appear as a weed in nearby fields. 



C. N. Pope and Dr. E. Scott, d.s.o. 



TWO INTERESTING NESTS 



nrWO nests of special interest were observed in the garden this summer. 

 ^ 1. A pair of Spotted Flycatchers made use of an old Blackbird's 

 nest in our porch which had already been used more than onee by the 



10 



