1288 
MESSRS. J. B. LAWES, J. H. GILBERT, AND M. T. MASTERS, 
Primulacea:. 
Primula veris, tlie common Cowslip, is the only member of this family found on the 
plots, and it is so only in small quantities. It was found in four samples in 1862 (but 
observed on six plots); in two samples in 1867 (and observed on six plots) ; in one 
sample only in 1872 ; and in six in 1877 (but observed on eight plots). It was most 
frequent on the unmanured and the mineral manured plots; but in all cases it 
yielded an extremely small quantity, and it was all but absent from all plots receiving 
nitrogenous manure. 
Orchidaceaj. 
Orchis Morio is the only species of this family observed on the plots. It was 
present on three in 1862, on none in 1867, on one in 1872, and on one in 1877, these 
being the unmanured, and one of the mineral manured plots; but it was never in 
sufficient quantity to be represented in the samples. 
Liliacea;. 
Three species represent this Order, viz.: Scilla nutans, Fritillaria Meleagris, and 
Ornithogalum umbellatum. 
Scilla nutans , the Blue Bell or Wild Hyacinth, was found in one sample in 1862, 
in none in 1867, in three in 1872, and in six in 1877. It occurred on plots very 
variously manured, but in no case exceeded 0'01 per cent, of the total herbage. 
Fritillaria Meleagris has not been met with in any of the samples, but a few plants 
were observed on two plots in 1867, on one in 1872, and on one in 1877 ; in each year 
on the plot with the smaller quantity of nitrate of soda alone. The plant occurs with 
some frequency in the Park, under some elm-trees at a little distance from the plots, 
but appears to have quite disappeared from the plots of late years. 
Ornithogalum umbellatum was found in extremely small amount in one sample (from 
plot 9) in 1872, but has otherwise not been observed on the plots. 
All three of these Liliacece are bulbous plants, flowering early, and are not of a 
character to be represented in the samples, even in the small proportion in which they 
exist in the growing herbage. The organisation of the bulbs is such as to provide for 
reproduction independently of the seed, and thus it not unfrequently happens that 
the plants persist for some years, forming new bulbs and leaves each season, but not 
producing flower. The same holds good in the case of the Orchids. The profusion of 
Blue Bells in woods and shady places probably arises from the circumstance that they 
are enabled to grow and maintain themselves under conditions in which other plants 
cannot so well do so. 
