182 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



"When I wrote my original description of the 

 resting-spores of Peronospora infestans for the 

 Gardeners' Chronicle I stated distinctly how I 

 obtained my results. Mr. C. Edmund Broome, 

 M.A., F.L.S., of Batheaston, last autumn repeated 

 my experiments with diseased Potato leaves, and he 

 obtained results exactly the same with mine. Erom 

 .ast July till now Mr. Broome and myself have 

 fortunately been able to keep these hybernating 

 resting-spores alive." 



EERN COLLECTING ON CHURCHES. 



THE notes which are here presented, and which 

 perhaps will be interesting to the readers of 

 Science-Gossip (especially to those young natural- 

 ists who are wondering where they could best spend 

 ■the time they have for rambling this season), were 

 made during a ramble along part of the Norfolk 

 coast from Burnham to Cromer. This coast, as is 

 well known, is not so attractive as other parts of 

 the country, but, like every other part, there are 

 many objects of attraction, which a lover of nature 

 could not fail to be pleased with ; some of which, 

 perhaps, we shall hint at in passing. 



Making Burnham the starting-point, naturally 

 enough the old town church was the first to come 

 under the eye. After a very little trouble the Rue- 

 fern {Asplenium ruta-muraria) was taken in an 

 excellent condition ; proceeding then down a lane, 

 known as Eriars-lane, the old church of Burn- 

 ham Norton was inspected, and there grew abun- 

 dantly the Rue-fern, also several of the black 

 Spleenwort {Asplenium adiantum nigrum), some of 

 which were taken. Going back again by Eriars-lane 

 to Burnham Overy church, where the Rue-fern was 

 growing very copiously, we rambled then from the 

 church to the beach, and were not a little interested 

 in collecting the numerous species of shells left by 

 the tide, which we scarcely dare attempt to name, 

 unless it were such common types as {Cypraa 

 europaa, or Nassa reticulata), and now and then 

 finding geological curiosities in the form of a piece 

 of jet, or, what seemed more rare, amber. Just inside 

 the large range of sand-banks are abundance of the 

 common "cockle" {Cardium edulis), which in its 

 season is collected in large quantities. Whelks 

 are also plentiful, and those peculiar creatures 

 known as star-nsh. One peculiar use to which the 

 star-fish is put in that neighbourhood is to pierce 

 a hole through the body, and place the stem of a 

 young plant, such as a cabbage, through, and plant 

 the cabbage surrounded by the animal, which seems 

 to be sufficient manure to produce what is desired. 



There is one thing worth noting in connection 

 with this part of the coast, to observe how the sea 

 at one time has left the land : it was found by per- 

 sonal observation that in less than twelve months, 



vegetation {Carex arenaria) had approached seven 

 yards nearer the sea. At Hunstanton, about twelve 

 miles westwards from this point the sea encroaches ; 

 so much so, that the fall of cliff a few years since 

 was estimated at two thousand tons weight. 



Passing on to the famed Holkham, with its mag- 

 nificent Park, inside which the church is pleasantly 

 situated, it was gratifying to take specimens of the 

 Rue-fern. At Wells, we could find none. At 

 Warham, about two miles farther east, the Rue-fern 

 and a few plants of the common Harts-tongue {Scolo- 

 pendrium vulgare) were abundant enough. Going 

 on still in the same direction to Stiffkey, and alone 

 upon the church the common Polypod {Polypodium 

 vulgare) was collected. At Morston, we collected 

 Polypodium vulgare and Scolopendrium vulgare. 

 Through some cause Blakeney church was missed, 

 and no more were collected, until the fine old ruins 

 (a part of which forms the present worshipping 

 place) of Cley, where the Rue-fern only appeared. 

 It now happened that night was mastering us, and 

 not being able to obtain lodging at Salthouse, we 

 had to walk ontoWeybourne; and well we remember 

 what a rough and strange country it was. Our guide 

 map was of no service whatever, as it was too dark. 

 However, we reached the place and obtained lodg- 

 ing, scarcely thinking on the following morning of 

 the previous evening's walk. Some fine old ruins 

 were visited here covered with ivy, and in a rather 

 bare place were a great abundance of wall-flowers 

 in blossom. A few plants of Scolopendrium, vulgare 

 were found upon the ruins. 



The morning was exceedingly fine, and we were 

 drawn again to the sea-side, and found ourselves 

 upon the top of the cliffs at Lower Sheringham, 

 and descending to the beach, it was an easy matter 

 to go with the boats and take crabs, for which 

 the place is noted. It is strange to notice the beach 

 covered with black pebbles uniform in size, and 

 upon which strange pedestrians find no small 

 amount of difficulty in walking. It is easy to 

 imagine what a sound is produced by the breakers 

 when the tide is coming in. 



Being so interested, we passed the church, and, 

 almost before being aware of it, found ourselves 

 at Beeston ; visited some old ruins known as the 

 Priory, covered with ivy, of which j there was a 

 gigantic specimen. Upon the church the Rue-fern 

 and a few specimens of Asplenium adiantum 

 nigrum were growing. At Runton, farther on, the 

 Rue-fern, Asplenium adiantum nigrum, and Poly- 

 podium vulgare were growing abundantly. 



Passing along by the sea-side to Cromer, which 

 was made the centre from which parts of the sur- 

 rounding neighbourhood were visited, the black 

 pebbles had entirely disappeared, and the beach 

 consists of sand and small stones, searching amongst 

 which we were rewarded by finding some very nice 

 cornelians, which are still with us in a polished 



