Sisymbrum Irio covering in great profusion the ground left vacant by that terrible calamity.

A large number of plants only make their appearance in the wake of the agriculturist, and the weeds of cultivated lands form a large item in our British Flora. Some of these are so adherent as even to follow the husbandman to a foreign land, and the common Plantain (Plantago major) has been so marked in its attachment, as to receive from the wild aborigines of America and Australia the name of the "white"man's foot."

But independent of these sources from which we may say our Flora is replenished, we find in a maritime town like Liverpool many plants of entirely accidental introduction. These parasites of commerce, as they may be justly termed, seem to creep in among us in a surreptitious manner, certainly uninvited and often equally unwelcome. On these plants it is my intention this evening to make a few remarks. This subject does not appear at first sight to be very important, but when we consider the disastrous results that have arisen, in many instances, from these interlopers, it becomes a matter of great moment to agriculturists and others.

It is only seventeen years ago that a strange water plant was discovered by Miss Kirby in the canal near MarketHarborough, yet now it is supposed that there is not a county in Great Britain where this mischievous plant (the Anacharis alsinastrum) is not found to be an expensive pest. In fact, so rapid is its growth and so greatly does it hinder navigation and drainage, that large sums have to be annually expended in some districts to extirpate it from the dykes and canals where it has been accidentally introduced. It has been found that, if a small piece of the stem be thrown into a ditch, it will very shortly exclude all other aquatic plants and eventually dry the ditch up. This increase is more remarkable from the fact that only the female flowers have been

found in England, and since the stamens and pistils are on separate plants (it being a diclinous species) its reproduction cannot have been from seed. So fully endowed is every part of it with these reproductive powers, that a single inch of the stem with a few of its leaves will soon form a vigorous plant. And a recent notice has appeared in the papers, that, in consequence of this plant rendering the Talkin Tarn, Brampton, Cumberland, so dangerous for boat rowing, the annual regatta would have to be abandoned until some method of destroying this weed could be discovered.

In France, among a number of cultivated fields of the plant producing the aniseed (Pimpinella anisum) some seeds of the hemlock (Conium maculatum) were accidentally sown ; these, when in seed, closely resembling one another, were gathered together, and a favourite cordial prepared from them was fatal to human life in several instances.

Again, a farmer sows his field with clover amongst which are seeds of the parasitical dodder. The two germinate and spring up together for a time, when the parasite leaving "mother earth," fixes and entwines itself round the stems of the clover. Introducing its minute suckers into its former companion (but now its victim) it feeds and flourishes luxuriantly, leaving the clover a meagre, withering plant. I need hardly relate how destructive this must be to the crop of the farmer and how carefully he secures "clean" seed, fearing lest he might introduce some new pest.

I shall now proceed to give a short account of the probable ways in which these foreign aliens have been introduced among our local plants, with a list of the species found in the Liverpool district.

PLANTS INTRODUCED WITH AGRICULTURAL SEEDS. Sisymbrium pannonicum, Jacq.-A native of Hungary; has been found at Crosby in abundance for nearly ten

years, the only other recorded British locality being at Wandsworth, near London-H. S. F.

Fumaria media, Loisel.-Claughton village-F. M. Webb. Trifolium hybridum, Willdenow.-Frequent in cultivated fields, with its variety elegans.

Trifolium incarnatum, Willdenow.-Little Brighton-Mrs. Grimsdale. Crosby-T. Gibson, Sen.

Melilotus arvensis.-Seaforth common-H. S. F. CrosbyJ. Skellon. Green-bank farm-H. S. F.

Latus jacobæus, Willdenow.-This plant, frequent in our greenhouses and easily recognised by its nearly blackcoloured flowers, was found by Mr. Henry Gibbons, Jun., growing among corn on his farm at Green-bank. It is a native of one of the Cape de Verd Islands.

PLANTS ACCIDENTALLY ESCAPED FROM CULTIVATION BUT REMAINING PERMANENT IN THEIR LOCALITIES.

Coronilla varia, Willdenow.-Upton, Cheshire-J. Skellon. Resida suffruticulosa, L.-New Brighton sandhills. Enothera biennis, L.-This plant, abundant upon our sandhills, has been recorded in this locality for fully half a century.

Geranium phæum, L.-Occasionally about hedge banks, at Cabbage Hall, &c.

Borago officinallis, I..-Bromborough, Cheshire-H. S. F. Anchusa sempervirens, L.-Hooton Park-Miss C. Grundy. Narcissus biflorus, Curt.-Very abundant on Hilbre Island, in one place; evidently of very early introduction and may even date back to the time when a religious house existed on the Island.

PLANTS INTRODUCED AMONG BALLAST.

Ranunculus Pennsylvanicus, Willdenow.-Birkenhead-H. S. Fisher.

Melilotus parviflora, Defontaines.-Parkfield *-Miss C. Grundy. Birkenhead-T. Gibson, Sen.; H. S. Fisher. Claughton-Mrs. F. Boult.

Melilotus leucantha, Koch.- Claughton-H. S. Fisher. Birkenhead-F. M. Webb.

Trigonella foenum-græcum, Willdenow.-Claughton-Mrs. F. Boult; H. S. Fisher.

Ornithopus compressus, Willdenow.-Birkenhead-F. M. Webb; H. S. Fisher.

Ammi majus, Willdenow.-Birkenhead-T. Gibson, Sen. ; H. S. Fisher.

Ambrosia elatior, Willdenow.-Parkfield-Miss C. Grundy. Reseda phyteuma, Willdenow.-Garston shore-T. Gibson, Sen.

Saponaria vaccaria, Willdenow. - Claughton-Mrs. F. Boult; F. M. Webb.

Asphodelus fistulosus, Willdenow.-Claughton-H. S. Fisher; F. M. Webb.

PLANTS INTRODUCED WITH FOREIGN HAY.

Trifolium resupinatum, Willdenow.-Everton-H. S. Fisher.

Fairfield-W. Skellon.

Melilotus arvensis, Willdenow.-Seaforth common-H. S. Fisher. Crosby-W. Skellon. Green-bank farm

H. S. Fisher.

• The discovery of these plants inland arises from the fact that the foundations of new roads are often made of ballast.

AN OUTLINE OF THE ORIGIN AND DEVELOP

MENT OF BANKS AND FINANCIAL

INSTITUTIONS.

By Mr. B. L. Benas.

(READ 7TH FEBRUARY, 1867.)

OF all present institutions for the assistance and development of trade and commerce, none have attained so prominent an importance as the subject which we purpose treating. When they are successful and in healthy condition, the whole country enjoys prosperity; but if otherwise, it is quite in the contrary direction. Let then our first object be, to enquire what gave rise to the occupation of the banker.

In extremely ancient times we do not find any mention of this calling individually; though we perceive laws against excessive interest in the earlier Sacred Writings. The cause for this can readily be understood, and its direct object need not be questioned; as, in agricultural communities, whose sphere of action is entirely local, an excessive interest would act very injuriously. The husbandman cannot expect more than an average profit upon the produce of his lands, and this again is so subject to vicissitudes of wind and weather, drought and so many unforeseen circumstances, that an organized system of large per-centage for loaned money in a people so situate, would tend to alienate the estates from their original possessors into the hands of the money-lenders.

But from the same source we learn-to a stranger money may be loaned at any interest that may be agreed upon. Our next question must of necessity be-Who is termed the stranger in ancient times? This, we can understand, was