HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE HERBARIUM. 51 
In 1787 the ditches in Lakeby Carr produced a luxuriant growth 
of this species. Since that date, however, the ditches have been 
deepened, cleaned or extended, and the “weeds and rubbish ” cast 
out. In many instances the plants, etc., thus exposed on the 
banks soon perished, but the Lysimachia has made a more success¬ 
ful stand than its companions, Scheuchzeria palustvis and Cavex 
limosa, L. 
In the summer of 1882 and in 1891, hundreds of vigorous plants 
of Lysimachia were observed in Leckby Carr, but only a small 
proportion exhibited signs of flow T ers or capsules. 
The absence of these usually essential agencies in the growth 
and existence of the species is in a great measure compensated for 
by the stout creeping stoloniferous root-stock, which provides for 
its propagation by annual shoots. Under these altered conditions 
the Lysimachia is still growing, and it is hoped may long continue 
to thrive in Leckby Carr. 
It is obvious that the specimens in Mr. Dalton’s collection are 
of great interest to recent botanists, and their value will become 
enhanced to succeeding students of British flora. The discovery 
by the Rev. James Dalton of Scheuchzeria palustvis , L., and the 
botanical work done by him may well entitle his name to a place 
amongst the “ Fathers of Yorkshire Botany.’’ 
The interesting specimens which Mr. Dalton collected in Cam¬ 
bridgeshire and Suffolk during the years 1787-8, testify to his 
botanical activity during his stay in Cambridge. 
In 1790 we find him carefully investigating the flora of Ripon 
and Boroughbridge, particularly at Copgrove and Staveley. One 
of Mr. Dalton’s fellow-workers in the Ripon district (1790-1800) 
was William Brunton, an ardent botanist and frequent contributor 
to “ English Botany, and the Botanist’s Guide.” Staveley Carrs, 
Hutton Moor, Ripon canal and neighbourhood yielded (in 1790- 
1800) a great variety of bog-loving and aquatic plants to these 
tw r o botanists. 
Mention may be made of a specimen in the herbarium, which 
Mr. Brunton has described as “ Potamogeton fluitans ,” near Ripon. 
The specimen was seen (in 1894) by Mr. Bennett, F.L.S., of 
Croydon, whose knowledge of this critical genus is extensive, 
and his opinion is that the plant in question is undoubtedly 
Potamogeton fluitans , Roth., a form which has hitherto only been 
recorded from (13) West Sussex, (17) Surrey, (29) Cambridge, 
(31) Huntingdon, (22) Berkshire of the Watsonian Vice Counties. 
