The Presidential Address.
39
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 1833, 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. J. 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 flora.
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 rather to the
reduction of our list of wild plants than to its increase.
This brings me to the conclusion of my subject, the consider-
ation of the future of man's influence on our Flora. More
marsh plants will probably share the fate of the Pilularia and
the Moonwort, even though locally protected from agricultural
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