REV. i'. W, fiALPIN ON THE FLORA OF IIARLESTON. 
227 
ih'briii of tho adjacent uplands. Loforo its drainage was better 
effected l)y a system of dykes, much wet land was to be found 
here. To this tho present abundance of Rushes and Sedges testifie.s, 
as Avell as tho existence of Utricularia, Stratiotes, and other 
chamctcristic plants noted by former observers. On the other side 
of the border river we enter tho high ground of Suffolk, correspond- 
ing in its main features to tho stiff uplands of tho district north of 
Harleston. Lastly, to the west of the town, tracing tho A’alley of 
tlie “beck” toward Stratton, wo find the meadow land, which 
edges it for some distance, gradually being brought under cultiva- 
tion as tho deprossion becomes leas marked, and the level of the 
surrounding country is attaine<l. Thus it Avill bo seen that the 
district is, in its present condition, Avithout bog laud .such as 
abounds in tho upper portion of tho Waveney Valley at Roydon 
and Lopham, Avithout tho wido extent of marsh land Avhich 
borders the loAver reaches of the river at Rungay and Reccles, 
Avithout heath land and open chalk doAvns such as exist iu tho 
Avestern parts of tho county ; in fact, tho Rotany of Harleston is 
tlio Rotany of the clays, gmvels, and sands of the Upper and 
^liddlo I)rift. 
Having made a foAv peraonal observations on my lii-st actpiainl- 
anco Avith this ciislern county in the year 1883, it Avas proposed in 
tho following spring to form a small club of Avorking botanists, for 
the purpose of collecting information on the flowering plants of 
the neighbourhood. !Many considerations pointed to an opening 
for such a club, notably the fact that the district had never been 
systematically Avorked, nor its particular flora recorded. The area 
proposed for observation in the first year (1884) Avas that included 
by a circle of four miles’ radius from the rail\A'ay station. Owing 
to tho peculiar position of our town, it will at once be perceived 
that this area embraces much of the adjoining county, and a record 
of our Avork avouUI be imperfect Avithout a mention of the Suffolk 
plants found in our neighbourhood. It Avill therefore be under- 
stood, that in the general enumeration of species, the quotations 
.are made from tho complete list, though in the subsequent details 
of particular plants they are neces.sarily restricted to those 
observed in Norfolk. 
In tho year 1884, according to the corrected list, fiA'e hundred 
and thirty-tAvo species of flowering plants \\’ere noted Avithin the 
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