The Presidential Address. 
89 
state. Within the same period a somewhat interesting 
assemblage of some twelve or fourteen species have been 
accidentally introduced with foreign seed into our corn-fields, 
or have become common in a semi-wild state. Among these 
are the Saintfoin, the Common Flax, the Purple Cow-wheat, 
the Candy-tuft, Yellow Star-thistle, Geranium pyrenaicum , 
and Lepidium draba. The pretty little Veronica buxbaumii has 
spread throughout the length and breadth of England since 
1826, not having been noticed in Essex before 1858. The 
Gold of Pleasure (Camelina sativa), a native of Northern 
Russia, seems to have come to us, either in Flax-seed or in 
oil-cake, since 1838, and Alyssum calycinum since 1835. The 
notorious American Water-weed (Anacharis alsinastrum), un¬ 
known in England before 1842, seems to have been partly 
introduced with cultivated aquatic plants, partly with Cana¬ 
dian timber. The Rough Hawk’s-beard (Crepis setosa) and 
Cuscuta trifolii, one of the Dodders, were first seen by the late 
Mr. Gibson in clover-fields in 1843, and the Small-fruited 
Bedstraw (Galium vaillantii), which may, however, have been 
previously overlooked, was found by the same gentleman in 
the following year. Only last year I had sent me from Fel- 
stead, by the Rev./I Gepp, Ammi majus, a not uncommon 
casual of late years, from a corn-field, where it was associated 
with Centaurea solstitalis and other similar species. 
Time alone, of course, can show how far these recent in¬ 
troductions will become permanent additions to our floia. 
Our modern high farming, with careful weeding and trim 
hedgerows, kept clear, as Miss Ormerod advises, of all weeds, 
lest they harbour noxious insects, may tend lather to the 
reduction of our list of wild plants than to its mciease. 
This brings me to the conclusion of my subject, the considei- 
ation of the future of man’s influence on our Flora. More 
marsh plants will probably share the fate of the Pilulcu xa and 
the Moonwort, even though locally protected from agiicultuial 
drainage, as in Epping Forest. The Fritillary seems likely 
to suffer, owing to its beauty, the same fate as the Martagon 
Lily, that, namely, of being transplanted bodily into cottage 
gardens. I fear the Osmunda and other ferns will similarly 
