23 
those plants cultivated by man against his will in western 
Europe, and only indigenous in Siberia, it certainly seemed 
curious that a Siberian plant should be the first to cover the 
soil of Cheshire on its being first exposed to the air. Mr. 
Hurst remarked that Polygonum aviculare came after the 
former species in the extent of ground covered, and on flat 
unshaded places appeared to hold its own against P. convol- 
vulus better than any other plant ; nor does it appear to be 
eventually smothered by the grasses among which it may 
frequently be found growing. Papaver dubium came next 
as to conspicuousness, though perhaps not covering so great an 
area as other species humbler in appearance. In the adjacent 
town of Bowdon, under similar circumstances, it sprang up 
abundantly the first year, sparingly the second, and almost 
disappeared the third. The slightest eakeing or hardening 
of the surface soil being fatal to its existence. 
Plantago major, or <c the footsteps of the white man,” as 
it is called by the North American Indians, also appeared, 
but in small numbers. The list comprises 58 species, of 
which the Graminaceae form 17 per cent; Polygonaceae, 13 per 
cent ; Compositae, 1 1 per cent ; Leguminosae, 9 per cent. 
Hence there were one-half of the species comprised in four 
families. Papaver argemone, Myosotis arvensis, Anagallis 
arvensis were single specimens, but these species are found in 
the adjacent fields. 
