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grows in several of our wild woods and hedges, and is reckoned among British plants, yet it can be scarcely considered indigenous. It is, by most writers, thought to be a native of the American woods, but it was commonly cultivated before the time of Henry VIII.—a period in which few fruits were reared in England, until after Catherine of Arragon had had them imported. The beauty both of the fruit and flower of the strawberry had attracted the notice of lord Bacon. Speaking of a flower-garden: "Trees," says he, "I would have none in it, but some thicket made of sweetbrier and honeysuckle, and some wild vine amongst; and the ground set with violets, strawberries, and primroses; for these are sweet, and prosper in the shade."

How beautiful now are the delicate bells of the lily of the valley, (Convallaria majalis,) as they grow, half-hidden in the shade of their two broad green leaves! These flowers are now brought in baskets for sale, into the towns, and often planted in town gardens, there to pine away far from their native shades. The root of thi flowers is bitter, and has medicinal properties, and the juice of its leaves, prepared with lime, yields to the manufacturer a beautiful dye. By its side may sometimes be seen the wax-like drooping blossoms of the Solomon's seal, (Convallaria multiflora,) with their delicate grecu edges. Its root, called whitewort, is used for bruises, and certainly removes their blackness. Superstitious people, a few years ago, thought

that the great botanist and naturalist, Solomon, had given this virtue to the plant, by stamping it with his seal; in proof of which, the herbalist would point to the marks which are to be found on the knotted root, and claim for his remedy a wondrous efficacy.

The sweet woodruff, (Asperula odorata,) with its clear white cluster of small flowers, and its rings of green leaves, is now in bloom around the roots of trees. Its fresh leaves are almost scentless, but we have no native flower which so long retains its odour when dried. Withering says of it, that its strongly aromatic flowers, infused in water, make a beverage which far excels all the teas of China. The dried leaves, when mixed with snuff, are also said to give to it the sweet odour of the Tonquin bean-without being, as that seed is, prejudicial to the eyesight while the scent is more lasting.

A very singular flower, called herb Paris, (Paris quadrifolia,) now grows in moist shady woods. From the summit of the stalk proceed four broad leaves, which form a cross.

The

flower, which is green, consists of four petals, and the leaves of the calyx, or cup, are four; this arrangement is so peculiar, that the flower may easily be known by this description. On account of its four cross leaves, it has the name of true-love knot. Green flowers are always of a suspicious nature; a poison often lurks in their blossoms, leaves, or fruit; nor is the herb Paris an exception. It has, however, been used medicinally, and Linnæus recom

mends it to the attention of the faculty. The leaves and berries partake of the narcotic principle of opium, and the juice of the berry is applied to remove pain in the eye. As a flower, the herb Paris is rather singular than beautiful, but we admire it as an instance of the wonderful variety which exists in "the flowers of the

field."

The common bugle (Ajuga reptans) is another flower generally found in the woods in May. A hardy plant it is, its purple blossoms sometimes venturing forth in January, though less vigorously than at their proper season. It also grows on moist hedgebanks, and varies with a pale lilac, or even white blossom, the shape of which is much like that of the ground ivy. It was formerly called sicklewort, or carpenter's herb; for, in former times, when the labourer was cut by the sickle, or other sharp instrument, some plant which grew near him was employed to cure the wound, and this was found very serviceable, and is still a common remedy. A proverb was very common in France concerning this and another wood plant, "He needeth neither physician nor surgeon who hath bugle and sanicle." This latter flower, however, is known to be a positively injurious application, especially if it grow in a moist place, which, indeed, is the situation in which it flourishes most.

The white flowers of the holly are now in full beauty, and the spindle tree (Euonymus Europaus) is covered with its small green blossom.

Then there are the white clusters of the cornel, or dogwood, (Cornus sanguinea,) coming out upon the red twigs of the bush, and blooming occasionally all the summer, till winter is fully in; its leaves turning red at the season when those of plants in general turn yellow. It is found more especially on chalk, or limestone soils, and its wood has often been burned as an ingredient in making gunpowder. This shrub was also called gaten tree, and Chaucer speaks of its fruit as the gaten berrie. Its hard wood was anciently used for martial instruments; and Virgil has celebrated the plant as "the good and beautiful cornel."

In some few of our native woods, we may find the red and black currant bushes, and the gooseberry also, all of which flower in May. The fruit of the black currant (Ribes nigrum) is, in Kent, called gazel, and was known there, by this name, in the time of queen Elizabeth. All these bushes grow in cold climates, and are abundant in the snowy woods of the north. The black currant is common in the woods of Russia and Siberia; not only do the Russians make wine of its berries, but the Siberians make a tea of its strongly scented leaves. The red currant (Ribes rubrum) is planted in Essex for making wine.

But quitting the woodland, and coming away into the open field, the eye is greeted by the beautiful field of saintfoin (Hedysarum onobrychis) which is now most brilliantly red, and on which an unclouded sun throws a dazzling

lustre. But the saintfoin, though cultivated in fields, is an English wild flower; it is not, however, common in Scotland. It springs up naturally, on dry and chalky soils only, its long roots penetrating between the crevices in the rock, or chalky cliff; and it is upon this kind of soil that it can be cultivated to most perfection. On several of our moors, as Royston Heath and Salisbury Plain, it is plentiful. It is not till the latter end of May that the saintfoin is in full flower on the field, and it then contrasts beautifully with the light green of the corn-field, and the deeper tint of the meadow. It was formerly called cock's head grass, and French grass. Fuller, commenting on the vegetable productions of the different counties of England, says of it, "It is called saintfoin, or holy hay. Superstition may seem in the name, but there is nothing but good husbandry in the sowing thereof. It was first fetched out of France from about Paris, and since is sown in divers places in England, especially at Cobham-park, in Kent, where it thriveth extraordinary well on dry, chalky banks, where nothing else will grow.' The plant is, in the present day, very plentiful as a wild flower, and decks the hedge-banks of some of the lovely green lanes which lie around the ancient hall of Cobham.

A most singular instance of spontaneous motion is exhibited by a species of saintfoin called the moving plant, (Hedysarum gyrans.) This is a handsome flower of a purplish pink colour. It grows on the banks of the Ganges, and is

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