Phytogeographical Excursion in the British Isles. 2 $ 7 
radicans) which is now excessively rare. The weather was close, 
warm and “ muggy ” with an overcast sky and occasional drizzling 
rain, as if to give the visitors a correct impression of the climate 
determining the typical south-western vegetation. The Lower Lake 
was reached by boats on the return and a list was made of the 
plants on a wooded limestone island ; from the dominance of ash, 
the much greater variety of shrubs, some of which are characteristic 
limestone species and the absence of Cal tuna, etc., it was clear that 
the difference of soil has its usual effect in this region in spite of the 
very strongly marked climate. 
On August 26th the party travelled to Cork and visited the 
garden of Mr. Beamish at Ashbourne, near Queenstown Junction. 
In spite of the nearly continuous rain the members of the party, 
under the delightful guidance of their enthusiastic host, were 
keenly interested in the immense variety of plants which Mr. 
Beamish has got together in an incredibly short time. The rock 
garden, originally made in an old quarry, is specially rich and 
beautiful. Mr. and Mrs. Beamish afterwards hospitably entertained 
the party to lunch, and an unwilling departure was made in the 
afternoon in order to catch the steamer from Cork for Plymouth. 
August 27th. The rugged cliffs of the Land’s End, shrouded in 
mist, were sighted early in the morning after a fair passage, and 
most of the day was occupied in skirting the Cornish coast, Ply¬ 
mouth being reached about 4 p.m., in grey misty weather. The 
laboratory of the Marine Biological Association was visited by a few 
of the party, who were kindly shown round by the Director, Dr. Allen. 
On the following morning, August 28th, Plymouth was left by 
an early train for Cornwall. At Truro most of the luggage was left 
and the party was joined by Mr. Hamilton Davey, the author of the 
Flora of Cornwall, who kindly accompanied the party during its stay 
in the county. After changing at Gwinear Road, Helston was 
reached and a special motor-omnibus taken to Lizard Town. By the 
roadside Erica vagaus was soon seen in full flower and on the heaths 
of the Goonhilly Downs great sheets of it were passed. At Lizard 
Town the party were met by Mr. P. D. Williams of Lanarth. After 
lunch the party walked to Kynance Cove across the Lizard Downs, 
finding a number of characteristic species and the dwarf forms of 
several others, which are typical of the grassland of these cliffs. 
Beyond Kynance a wide circle was made over the heathland and 
some interesting observations were made on the ecological relations 
of these heaths, a thorough study of which would certainly lead to 
interesting results. The conclusion was reached that burning 
certainly has an effect of leading importance, for on a recently 
burned area all the species which are commonly found were at 
once returning, mainly by shooting from persistent underground 
organs, and the power to return quickly and occupy the soil must 
thus have a determining influence on the actually existing vegetation. 
On August 29th most of the party drove via Mullion, where half- 
an-hour was spent on the cliffs, to Penrose by kind permission of 
the owner, and the vegetation of Loo Bar was briefly investi¬ 
gated. Meanwhile two or three of the members visited Mr. Williams’ 
garden at Lanarth and also a hybrid of Erica vagaus and E. cinerea 
recently discovered by him. Lunch was then taken at Helston, and 
