48 
NOTE ON SPARTIXA GRASS. 
The work of watching the growth of the Spartina Town- 
sendii has been continued by Mr. R. V. Sherring and photo¬ 
graphs taken. On the occasion of the Society's General 
Excursion to Arne Beacon, good views were obtained, and the 
rapid advance of the grass surrounding Round and Long Island 
district was observed by field glasses and the alterations described. 
In Arne Bay, between Patehin’s and Shipstal Points, meadows 
of the “ grass " were pointed out. Looking northwards, the band 
from near Rock Ley Bridge was seen to be thicker, and the two 
island patches to the westward of this, at the entrance of the 
Wareham Channel, had much increased, whilst long meadows 
of the grass were passed parallel with the course taken to Ower 
Bav. This inlet and Wych Creek vie with each other as the 
headquarters of the growth. It is of interest to recall that the 
Rev. E. F. Linton first mentions Spartina in his “ Flora of 
Bournemouth," page 246: 
“ Estuaries, on mud below high water mark; very rare 
P., July and August. 
4. Poole estuary, near Ower, discovered by J. C. Mansel- 
Pleydell, Esq., 1899.’' 
No mention is made in the “ Flora of Dorset," 2nd edition, 
1895, of an y Spartina , but it was, possibly, known to a game- 
keeper and others before that time, but not under name. 
Again two days were spent examining the east and west 
creeks of Wych inlet. In the westerly inlet, little, if any, advance 
has been made, whilst the eastern side of Wych to Fitzworth 
shore is become a vast meadow. Wareham River seems to be free 
from it, but at the bottom of the L. & S.W. Railway banks, 
south of the line, there is an increase. The clumps are forming 
into line, and in places making a breakwater against the wash 
of the tide. At Poole, likewise, a noticeable increase is visible 
off the Fever Hospital. 
The Plant Association that appears to follow the establish¬ 
ment of the Spartina grass-meadows in Wych Creek has been 
carefully noted, and under their shelter were seen : 
Aster Tripolium , Linn (Starwort), 
Statice Limonium, Linn (Great Sea Lavender), 
Scirpus Tabernaemontani , Gmel (Glaucous Bulrush), 
t 
,, maritimus , Linn (Sea Club-rush), 
Pliragmites communis , Trin (Common Reed), 
thus agreeing with the plants usually growing in other similar 
places on mud flats washed by the tides. 
Captain Steel has also furnished us with some interesting 
notes, in which he states: 
