Sept. 1, 1870.] 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE- GOSSIP. 



203 



masses of ruby and gold-lined clouds which hang in 

 the western sky. 



My pony was a quiet one. It would stand 

 patiently while I gathered, on my homeward route 

 through the narrow, rugged lanes, large numbers of 

 the scarlet " heps," or " hips," as the fruit of the 

 wild dogrose (Rosa canina) is called, or made ray 

 teeth black, and stained my riding gloves with the 

 juice of the brambleberry (Rubus fruticosus), and 

 graze with its bridle thrown over its neck, while I 

 captured some of the winged seeds which flew 

 through the air like big spiders, or filled my hand- 

 kerchief with the sloeberry and crab-apple. 



This was in the happy time of girlhood, when to 

 watch the squirrel catering for his winter hoard, or 

 follow the swallow in its winged flight, was sufficient 

 enjoyment ; when sheep-shearing was an event, and 

 harvest-home a pleasure. But although these feelings 

 may belong to the past now, their memory lingers 

 still, and I would fain describe for the amusement 

 of those who [are not able to visit the country in 

 autumn, some of the things to be seen there during 

 the month of September. 



1 have mentioned the dogrose ; few, perhaps, are 

 practically acquainted with the good qualities of 

 this flower. I am not going to award it the repute 

 Pliny did, and affirm that its root will cure the bite 

 of a mad dog ; but its petals when dried make a 

 very good tea, and if distilled when freshly gathered, 

 they afford a delicious perfume. The fruit is used 

 on the Continent as an ingredient in different sauces, 

 and the Russians of the Volga prepare a spirit from 

 its flowers. Have you ever noticed the pretty little 

 bright green ball found on this shrub ? It is made 

 by an insect, and was called Beclegaar in old medical 

 works. If you cut open these excrescences, you will 

 find either the eggs or larvse of Cynips rosa. 



The oak-gall is likewise produced by the punc- 

 ture of an insect. I am not alluding now to the 

 true oak-gall of commerce, though that has the 

 same origin, only the little instrument is a different 

 insect to the one that makes our oak-apples. By 

 the way, will any of the readers of Science-Gossip 

 kindly tell me what the insect is that eats the kernel 

 of the wild nut — the wood nut ? The grub lets itself 

 down by a thread, which it spins after making its 

 way out of the shell ; but I have never met any one 

 who could say they had seen the perfect insect. 



I like the blackthorn for the sake of its pretty 

 white flowers, which appear in spring before the 

 leaves come out, more than I do on account of its 

 fruit, although its dark purple fringe, covered with 

 bloom like a plum, always possessed a charm for me 

 in September, especially after the first frosts had 

 aided to mellow it. The Welsh have an idea that 

 the puncture of a blackthorn spine is poisonous, 

 and I certainly have seen very ugly symptoms follow 

 the scratch made by some of the branches of a well- 

 spined tree in a raid after berries. 



Now, although September is decidedly more 

 Pomona's month than Flora's, fruits and berries 

 being in the ascendant, yet there are still some 

 flowers left — wild flowers I mean ; for with the 

 Crystal Palace grounds before my eyes as I write, 

 glowing in the brilliant loveliness of crimson 

 geraniums and yellow calceolarias, many-hued 

 foliage plants and stately hollyhocks, I could not 

 possibly say there are but few flowers in Sep- 

 tember. 



The Mallow is one of this month's favourites. 

 Pew of us who have spent a childhood in the coun- 

 try but what remember the little "cheeses" we 

 used to play with— the curious fruit of the Common 

 Mallow (Malva syhestris). This species has large 

 purple flowers, but the bloom of the Marsh Mallow 

 is a light rose-colour, and we find the plant most 

 abundautly on the seashore. 



Another seashore September "floral findhig" of 

 mine was the Sea-holly (Eryngiiun), with its exquisite 

 greyish-green leaves, and light purplish-blue flowers. 

 I think it is one of the most elegant wild flowers I 

 know : I found it on the Pembrey sand-hills this 

 time last year, and had considerable difficulty in 

 persuading some Cockney friends, to whom I showed 

 a few specimens on my return to town, that the 

 glaucous, ribbed, veiny, spined leaves were not 

 artificial. Were it not for these same spines what a 

 lovely decoration it would make for a headdress. 

 I placed a branch in a black lace bonnet, and I 

 assure you the effect was charming (when the bonnet 

 was in the hand). Sea-hulner and sea-holm are 

 provincial names given to the Eryngo. 



Then we have all the thistles ; they bloom late. 



" Proud thistle ! Emblem dear to Scotland's sons." 



Which of all the species of thistle is the true Scotch 

 one? I am told that the "Milk Thistle," usually 

 said to be the Scotch emblem, is very far from com- 

 mon in that country, but that the "Welled Thistle," 

 which is much more abundant on both Highland 

 banks and Lowland wastes, is better entitled to the 

 honour. The white veins on the leaves were, all 

 good Catholics will tell you, produced by a drop of 

 the Virgin's milk falling on the foliage; but we have 

 an heretical variety, in which the milky veins are 

 wanting. 



The genus Senecis add largely to our September 

 wild flowers. These are all the Ragworts ; bright 

 yellow blossoms some of them have, despite their 

 mean-looking leaves. 



The Meadow-sweet, with its elm-like form and 

 leaves, decks our moist fields and bauks in this 

 month, spreading its hawthorn-like odour in every 

 direction. Some of the foreign names of this plant 

 signify goatsbeard, " Geiten board" and " Barba 

 caprtv floribus compactis." 



I understand tliat the Greeks flavour some of their 

 wines with the blossoms; and certainly, if you steep 



