338 



JOUENAIi OF HORTICULTCKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



f October 24, 1865. 



decided on taking tliein up and making some better use of the 

 ground they occupied, but wishing to see whether the gi-ub or 

 myself was to be the conqueror I let them stand with not a 

 particle of foliage on them, and they are now (October) looking 

 exceedingly well. Some of the Endive will be ready for blanch- 

 ing ; and if a scarcity of salading should be felt, as it often is 

 at this time, the thinuings of the Lettuce and Endive seed-beds 

 will form au excellent substitute till better salading come in, 

 or at all events till the Celery is in full play, and the blanched 

 Endive is ready. A bed of Lettuce should be pricked out on a 

 dry border. The supply during this mouth wiU be rather 

 limited, on aceouut of the summer crops being removed before 

 the winter ones afford much variety, but we may depend upon 

 having Scarlet Runners, Dwarf Kidney Beans, Coleworts, Cab- 

 bage, Brussels Sprouts, and Vegetable Marrows. — Burntwood, 

 P. D. 



(To be continued.) 



MY PL.VNTS, 



AND HOW AND WHERE I FOUND THEM.— No. 11. 

 It was on ascending the hiD from the village of Oakamoor 

 on our return home, that we gathered specimeus of several 

 species of Buckler Ferns ; the Lastrea dilatata, L. Filix-mas, 

 and L. thelypteris, all growing under the friendly shade of the 

 trees above them, and being freely supplied with moisture from 

 the continual trickling of tiny springs above and around them. 

 I am not quite sure whether it was from this spot, or the 

 -•Uton woods, that I obtained my present fronds of the Lastrea 

 montana. Mountain Buckler Fern, but it was during this ex- 

 pedition. Moore says of it, that it " is a very elegant species, 

 the fronds growing shuttlecock fashion around the central 

 crown, which terminates the stem, to the height of from 2 to 

 3 feet. The plant is so fragrant, that when drawn througli the 

 hand it may be recognised from its kindred by this circum- 

 stance alone." On Cheadle Common I one day gathered some 

 very pretty and elegant fronds, which were fringed or tasselled. 

 I believe it was the variety cristata of Lastrea Filix-mas, the 

 foliage when mixed in a bouquet of garden flowers had au 

 uncommon and lovely effect. Growing in a ditch near this 

 place, and beneath the shelter of a Pino wood, I came upon a 

 plant of the same species of most luxuriant growth, but of a 

 very unusual shade of colour, and which contrasted beautifully 

 with the .\tliyrium Filix-fa?mina, and the two Lastreas, thelyp- 

 teris and Filix-mas, of a ligiit green hue, which were in close 

 proximity to it. I believe that a rich maroon would describe 

 the colour of the fronds. As the summer was then passing into 

 autumn, I suggested that this change of fohage might be attri- 

 butable to this cause, but from the fact of the sm-rounding 

 Ferns retaining the full green shade of their summer dress, 

 and that every frond of this particular plant was of the same 

 dark hue, we came to the conclusion that Dame Nature was 

 alone to blame, if blame her we could, for so pretty a relief 

 and contrast to the mass of green around us. 



The want of water in our Staffordshire landscapes has often 

 struck me as a curious circumstance, whilst the Ferns and 

 Jiowers seem to rejoice in a continual supply of moisture from 

 tiny and almost hidden sources ; springs seem to be arising on 

 all sides, but there seems to be no general gathering together 

 of these little forces to form any important amount of water. 

 Where, however, we occasionally meet with a stream in the 

 valley, foiTuing a bright and refreshing feature amongst the 

 mass of vegetation with which the sides of the hills are 

 clothed, then, indeed, I think that the scenery of this county can 

 rarely be excelled. In Norfolk, besides the rivers, we" fre- 

 quently meet with broad expauses of water, which come under 

 the denomination of small lakes, and in these broad expanses 

 revel the white and yellow Water Lilies. There upon the 

 bosom of the lake or stream they pass their short-lived day, 

 their roots firmly fixed in the l)ed of the river or lake, aiid 

 their beautiful blossoms reposing upon the dark green leaves, 

 basking in the noontide rays of the sun above them. It has 

 been said that at the moment when the sun sinks below tlie 

 horizon the Lilies close their petals and retire beneath the 

 water. This, however, is not strictly correct, for many flowers 

 may be seen upon the smface during au evening's stroll by the 

 margin of the water, although with contracted petals when the 

 golden light of the sun has departed. Fit emblems of purity 

 luid faithfidness are tliese favourites of the stream. In America, 

 Africa, and other parts of our glolje, are Water Lilies of various 

 colours, as red and blue, -which float upon those far-off waters ; 



China, also, possesses a beautiful Water Lily called Leenhwa, 

 it is very odoriferous. The Lotus is equally fragrant, a writer 

 says of it, " Its flower is much valued by the Hindoos, and 

 consecrated by them to one of their deities. Its leaves serve 

 them for many domestic purposes, as they cover their tables 

 with them, and eat their food from the smaller ones, while 

 flowers and fruit are presented to the stranger in a simple 

 basket made of the Lotus leaf." Moore evidently believed the 

 tradition -n-ith regard to Water Lilies, for he thus writes of the 

 Lotus — 



" Those virgin Lilies all the night. 



Bntbing their beiinties in the lake. 



That they may rise more fresh and bright, 



When tlieir beloved sun's awake." 



The estimation in which these beautiful flowers are held, ia 

 fuUy corroborated by the fact, that no ornamental water is 

 considered perfect without them. I remember in childhood's 

 days the splendour of these Nymphaea^ at a gentleman's seat 

 in Suffolk, and there also what magnificent Thorns graced the 

 grounds, under which we girls and boys with several com- 

 panions of our own ages, children of the neighbouring rector, 

 came to spend a merry afternoon, oiu- chief object being to 

 gather bunches of Mistletoe, with which these Thorns were 

 plentifully decorated. Having secured, with the help of our 

 youthful gallants, as much as we could conveniently carry, we 

 started off homewards. There a kind-hearted aunt awaited us 

 with the genial cup of tea, her bright and happy face always 

 portended good, and iu her hospitable house was the kindly 

 welcome for all who entered it. She, too, was a botanist. A 

 love of Nature, and of her wonders and beauties, certainly 

 softens our natures, and rubs off the rust and hard business- 

 like tone which we should otherwise get iu dealing with this 

 working world. 



But now, as we are sure to have a merry tea-party with 

 " aunty," let us after our meal reach down from amongst her 

 numerous books some which wiU enlighten us upon the plant 

 which we have left under the verandah, for it must always 

 interest us in connection with the ancient religion of this, our 

 own loved country, and of the 



" Druids, who whilst arms are heard no more. 

 Old mysteries and barbarous rites restore : 

 A tribe who singular religion love, 

 And liaunt the lonely coverts of the grove." 



With a pecidiar reverence the ancient Britons looked upon 

 Ihese, in those times, learned men, who combined the four impor- 

 tant functions of " priest, magistrate, scholar, and physician." 

 Their principal reliance, however, seems to have been placed on 

 Nature's great prophylactics — temperance, cheerfulness, and 

 exercise. These they earnestly prescribed to their patients as 

 the surest means of preserving or restoring health. It is also to 

 be mentioned, that they taught the people that no medicine 

 coidd be efficacious without the Divine blessing. The practice 

 of the Druids was simple and rational, and if it was of little 

 efficacy, it was at least harmless. Their sovereign remedy, how- 

 ever, was our friend the Mistletoe, its name in their own language 

 signified heal-all. It was on the sixth day of the moon that they 

 sought the Mistletoe, which gi-ew on their favourite Oaks, to 

 which as well as the former plant, they ascribed a peculiar 

 virtue and sacredness. The discovery of the Mistletoe was an 

 occasion of rejoicing and solemn worship. "Preparations for 

 feasting and sacrifice are made under the tree," says old Pliny, 

 " they drive thither two milk-white bulls, whose horns are then 

 for the first time bound. The priest then ascends the tree, 

 robed in white, and cuts it with a golden sickle. It is caught 

 in a white mantle, after which they proceed to slay the victims, 

 at the same time praying that God will render His gift pros- 

 perous to those to whom He has given it. They believe, also, 

 that it is a remedy against all poisons." Thus far do we learn 

 to hold the old priests of our country in some reverence, as 

 lights, though somewhat dim ones, in those dark ages. 



The old custom of "hollowing largess" at the termination 

 of the harvest, which is in use in the counties of Norfolk, 

 Essex, and Suffolk, appears to me to bear reference to some of 

 the old Druidical rites. I have seen no accoimt of its origin 

 in any book at present, and should be glad of some infonnation 

 upon' this subject. The jimior members of a family in the 

 country generally look anxiously forward to the last night of the 

 in-gathering of the treasures of Ceres, when the last load returns 

 crowned with Oak boughs, and the weary workmen are rewarded 

 by a hospitable table, groaning beneath the weight of beef, 

 I'otatoes. and other vegetables, pork, pies, and plum pudding; 

 also, an unlimited quantity of beer, which is handed round 

 diu-ing the feast and late into the night. Smoking and songs 



