FLORA OF THE AVON-BED. 
115 
grain a portion would always be consigned to tbe bottom of the 
Float. 
Again, the most perfect threshing machinery in use at home or 
abroad will not separate from the cleaned grain the seeds of all 
the humble weeds which make a home between the furrows, and 
are harvested with the corn, either by the sickle or the still less 
discriminating reaping-machine of the last decade. 
Lastly, it is obvious that the continual presence in our 
harbour of vessels laden with merchandise from all parts of tbe 
globe amply suffices for the introduction to tbe Avon-bed of the 
seeds of those stragglers whose names appear in the concluding 
section of my list. 
Meanwhile the dredgiug has recommenced, the barges and 
steam cranes are busy with fresh material, and, as I write, the 
space which for one summer was alive with luxuriant vegetation, 
is being deeply buried under more seed-bearing soil of like 
composition. 
Bye and bye, when a season of rest is again reached, I do 
not doubt that another motley throng of curious weeds will arise 
to excite our interest, and to claim attention from a botanical 
chronicler. 
K 
I 
