THE HOT AH Y OF BUILDIXG ESTATES 
87 
Groundsel {Senecio viscosus), and the aliens, White Melilot {M. 
alba), Common Flax {Linum nsitatissininm), and Field Woodruft 
{Asperula avvensis), with Galinsoga parviflova and Sisymbrium pan- 
nonicum, turned up on the newly-made roadways, whilst on the 
adjoining field, from which the turf had been removed partly, 
several plants of Purple Cow Wheat {M elampyrum arvense) showed 
up conspicuously in the sunshine amongst a medley of small 
plants, with the aliens, Cvnpina vulgaris, which looks like a cross 
between a Catchfly and a Knapweed, and Vida pannonica, var. 
purpurascens, a Vetch with remarkably hairy, stout and short pods. 
Put, so far, the best locality about here has proved to be an 
estate near Woodford Wells, to which I paid a passing visit in 
the early autumn of 1905, and quickly recognised it as a very 
paradise for the botanist, being not only a “ casual ” ward but 
a dumping ground for “ aliens” into the bargain. There is only 
one road on this estate, one end of which was apparently a small 
orchard. Here I found on one side of the made roadway, and 
bordering it, a belt of lime-covered soil, on which was growing 
a perfect forest of Upright Goosefoot {Chenopodium urbicum) with 
a few examples of Gold-of-Pleasure (Camelina foetida) and some 
climbing Buckwheat {Polygonun convolvulus) interspersed, the 
first two being aliens, and the last a casual. Further along, in 
a small belt of trees, were a good many low bushy plants of 
Black Nightshade [Solanum Jiigrum). On the other side of the 
road was a mixed growth, amongst which Corn Cockles {Lychnis 
githago) predominated ; one or two Blue - Bottles (Centaurea 
cyanus), a plant of Corn Spurrey {Spergula arvcnsis). Many-seeded 
Goosefoot — all of which are casuals — Buckwheat (E'agopyrum 
esculentum) and one specimen of Blitum capitatum — both alien 
species — were also observed. The last-named is remarkable, 
and perhaps unique, as being of unknown origin, its native 
country not having yet been ascertained. There was also the 
branched upright-growing form of Knotgrass {Polygonum aviculare) 
some 18 inches or more in height, and a little further along was 
a large patch of Marsh Cudweed {Gnaphalium uliginosum), some 
of the plants being large and very spreading. Beyond this 
again was a regular jungle, the bulk of which consisted of 
Common and Pale-flowered Persicarias (P. persicaria and P. 
lapaihifolium). Docks, Knotgrass, White Goosefoot and Spear 
Plume-Thistles (Cnicus lanceolatus). Amongst these, however, 
were noticed the following casuals : Common and Common Red 
Hemp-nettles {Galeopsis tetrahit and G. angustifolia) and Bladder, 
Night-flowering and White Campions; also the aliens, Pale 
Yellow Woundwort {Stachys annua). Grey Madwort {Alyssum 
incanum), each represented by several specimens, and one plant 
of Ox-eye Chamomile {Anthemis tinctoria). There were many 
Evening Primroses, too, and one Great Snapdragon {Antirrhinum 
majus), which may have come as seeds from neighbouring 
gardens, but from their positions, I am inclined to think not. 
By no means the least interesting feature of this paradise 
