109 



NOTES OF A BOTANICAL 



STROLL FROM PLYMOUTH TO BICKLEIGH VALE, GOING 



AND RETURNING BY DIFFERENT ROUTES. 



KO. II. 



On Tuesday, April 15th., according to appointment with an ornithological 

 friendj (a correspondent of yours,) who is desirous to have an insight into 

 Botany, I started with him on a ramble through our renowned Biekleigh 

 Vale. The morning was black and windy, threatening rain: nevertheless, 

 nothing daunted, we pursued the 'even tenour of our way 5' and a most 

 delio-htfal day's excursion we had, notwithstanding the 7iimhi did discharge their 

 watery treasures around us. Although at the risk of trespassing upon your 

 space, I cannot resist the temptation to remark how great is the pleasure 

 which the naturalist enjoys during his walk, compared with that of the listless, 

 objectless saunterer, who merely creeps out of his domicile to banish ennui, 

 and escape from himself, as it were. At this season, for example, when the 

 sun only sheds its beams aslant upon the earth, and the woods are brown and 

 diUl to the eye, what delight could it afford the man who is able to appre- 

 ciate only the glowing sunshine of the summer months, and the gorgeous 

 drapery which then invests the trees, to stroll forth in their silent arcades, and 

 gaze upon their denuded denizens? None! He is unacquainted with the 

 inherent beauties of Nature, and therefore courts her not, except when arrayed 

 in her carnival attire. Let us, then, who have been 'within the veil,' and 



know how refining — how elevating — how subjugatory of the passions is inter- 

 course with Nature, strive to win votaries to her shrine, by showing to such 



as have hitherto kept aloof from her temple, that at all times and all seasons, 



she has charms for her true and fervent worshippers. But to proceed; and 

 here I would state, th:it in this series of papers I shall, (except under special 



circumstances) omit the name of any plant noticed, if previously recorded. 



For instance, comparatively few plants will be mentioned in these notes, owing 



to the majority of those seen this day being included in our first paper. 

 Crossing the Laira embankment, we found, profusely scattered on both sides 



of us, Barharea prcccox. This plant is not common throughout England. 



Babington particularly points out in his "Manual," "waste places in Devonshire," 



as the locality of this plant. 



On the line of the Dartmoor Railway, Sarofhamnus scoparius had donned 



its vesture of 'vegetable gold.' It was early for this shrub to be in blossom. 



Indeed, if your readers will consult their books, they will find that our 



plants are generally precocious — a circumstance attributable to the geniality of 



our climate, and low, sheltered position. 



Shortly after' entering the Vale, we discovered in abundance Anemone 



nemorosa, dotting the ground with its pure white flowers, and filling one with 



ecstacy at the thought of so much life and energy prevailing in the midst of 



seeming decrepitude and death. Of Ajvga reptans, one specimen was collected. 



