CORRESPONDENCE 
237 
Viola sylvatica, var. Reichenbachiana.— In your issue for July I 
notice appended to my remarks on Viola sylvatica, var. Reichenbachiana, 
a note by my old friend Mr. Bagnall, to the effect that the finding of 
that plant had not been recorded by me. I have before me a copy of 
the “ King Edward’s School Chronicle,” dated Saturday, June 9, 1877. 
In page 33, vol. ii., and in an account of an excursion of the School 
Natural History Society on May 2, 1877, from Claverdon to Preston 
Bagot, Henley, and Knowle, among the rare plants recorded is Viola 
sylvatica, var. Reichenbachiana, the plant in question. I had found it 
a few weeks previous, and now pointed out its peculiarities to the 
members. Again, before me is the annual report of the Birmingham 
School Natural History Society for 1877, printed at the “Herald” 
Office, and here I find a similar record on page 10. If you would 
kindly set this right by a line in your next issue I should be glad. 
Unfortunately there was no “Midland Naturalist” in 1877.— James 
Turner. 
Botanical Notes from South Beds.—Earliest Observed Date of 
Flowering for 1882 and 1883, with Voucher Specimens:— 
Name. 
Date. 
1882. 
Date, 
1883. 
Aspect. 
Habitat. 
Mercurialis perennis (malei 
_ 
Jan. 1 
W. 
Wood. 
„ „ (female) 
_ 
„ 28 
W. 
Hedge bank. 
Tussilago Farfara. 
Jan. 25 
„ 22 
S.W. 
Railway bank. 
Helleborus viridis . 
M 7 
Feb. 4 
W. 
Hedge bank. 
Potentilla Fragariastrum* ... 
15 
„ 24 
W. 
Hedge bank. 
Salix Caprea . 
Mar. 5 
M 25 
Open 
Hedge row. 
Adoxa Moschatellina. 
--- 
Mar. 11 
S.W. 
Coppice. 
Draba verna . 
Feb. 19 
,, 11 
Open 
Gravel walk. 
Anemone nemorosa. 
Mar. 3 
„ 24 
W. 
Coppice. 
Nepeta glechoma. 
„ 18 
„ 26 
S.W. 
Hedge bank. 
Anemone Pulsatilla. 
„ 22 
April 4 
S.E. 
Chalk hills. 
Primula veris. 
„ 18 
„ 1 
S. 
Hedgebank, 
Luzula pilosa. 
7 
W. 
Moist wood. 
„ campestris . 
Mar. 25 
Open 
Moist meadow. 
Prunus spinosa. 
„ 16 
April 8 
Hedge row. 
Ranunculus auricomus. 
„ 26 
„ 8 
W. 
Under trees. 
„ bulbosus. 
April 8 
W. 
Meadow. 
Scilla nutans . 
Mar. 29 
April 13 
W. 
Coppice. 
Stellaria Holostea . 
„ 20 
M 21 
W. 
Hedge bank. 
Cardamine pratensis. 
April 8 
,, 21 
Open 
Moist meadow. 
Sisymbrium Alliaria . 
„ 10 
„ 21 
W. 
Hedge bank. 
Veronica Chamsedrys. 
„ 22 
W. 
Hedge bank. 
Creetaegus monogyna. 
„ 30 
May 16 
Open 
Hedge row. 
Geranium Robertianum . 
■ 
» 17 
W. 
Hedge bank. 
* Gathered in Bricket Wood, Herts, April 11,1883. 
Besides the above, a single blossom of Caltha palustris was gathered on 
February 14, 1883, but the subsequent frosts prevented others from 
appearing in any quantity till the middle of March. — J. Saunders, 
Luton. 
The Diorite of Charnwood Forest. —Near Brazil Wood, Charnwood 
Forest, is a knoll of diorite, “distinctly crystalline, and remarkably 
tough and refractory.” Occurring alone, as it does, in the middle of 
a field, there is nothing to show its relationship either to the granite 
or the micaceous schist (gneiss) exposed in the wood. While ham¬ 
mering at this diorite a short time since I obtained some specimens 
showing a junction between granite and diorite. The junction in the 
specimens is sharp and clear. The thick growth of lichens on the 
rock had hidden the characteristic weathering of the granite, making 
it appear all diorite. The granite of the junction specimens cannot be 
