THE VITALITY OF SEEDS.
rTo THE ED/TOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:9 .
SIR,—There is evidently some mistake about the plant found on the walls at Chester, as no such name as Erica hispanica is known to botanists. The plant in question is, no doubt, Erinus alpinus, and the locality I take to be, not "Chester," but " Chesters," Co. Durham ; at any rate, the plant has occurred there since 1881, and a similar theory of its origin has been current. I am afraid the theory can hardly be maintained; the Erinus naturalises itself in gardens and on rock work with great facility, and was probably originally introduced at no distant date to the locality where it is now
at home.—I am, Sir, &c., JAMES BRITTEN. Department of Botany, British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, S.W.
[The word Erinus was by mistake changed to Erica in the letter alluded to.—ED. Spectator.]
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