17 AUGUST 1907, Page 17

[To TIIR EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR.'l SIR,—I am not

among those who understood your corre- spondent (Spectator, July 27th) to say that Parnassia palustris was extinct in England. I can add Lancashire, Westmorland, and Cumberland to the list of counties in which it flourishes still. What I gather is that it is extinct in the county of Somerset. This has been so, I am informed, for many years now. The reason is possibly to be found in the fact that enormous quantities of peat have been removed from those " turf moors at sea level," which wel'e formerly its habitat in this county. My purpose in writing to you, Sir, is to state that I should be most happy to assist in restoring this beautiful flower to our county. In an extended walk over Mendip on August 5th, I saw many wet grassy slopes similar to those upon which I have seen it growing in the North of England. If one of the many lovers of the Grass of Parnassus would send me three or four plants in the spring or early summer of next year, I would ou my part be delighted to see them carefully planted in suitable spots, and to report upon