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SLIPPER SLOPPERS. Meadow  Vetchling, 
Lathyrus pratensis (Kast Dorset). 
SitoE Busy. Mr. W. S. Price, of Wellington’ 
writes me:—‘‘In this neighbourhood it is 
curious that in autumn the Black-thorn is always 
referred to as a Sloe-bush, and I believe man 
young people for this reason fail to identify the 
two as the same plant.” 
SLOES, SLONES, or Stoos. The fruit of the 
Black-thorn, Prunus spinosa. Dr. R. C. Knight 
writes me: ‘‘ My father was always emphatic 
on the point that the SLOE was the large variety 
and the SNAG the small. As a matter of fact, 
there is probably every gradation of fruit, from 
the size of a wren’s egg to that of a blackbird’s 
egg—all within Prunus spinosa. The _ fruit 
expert here (Research Station, Hast Malling, 
Kent) informs me that in Kent the larger ones are 
called SLoES and the smaller Scaps. Hampshire 
people call the smaller HEDGEPIcKs.” This view 
is confirmed by the compilers of the Wiltshire 
Glossary, who say that in South Wilts, about 
Salisbury, the large fruit is known as SLOES or 
SLUES, and the small as SNacs. See also SLOOM. 
Dr. Downes writes ‘‘ There is probably some 
confusion between the Sloe and the Bullace, 
Prunus insititia, the latter being common in 
Somerset, and bearing much larger fruit.” 
Stoo. See SLOES. 
Stoom. The School-mistress at Barrington 
gives me ‘‘ Sloom-blossom”’ as the local name 
for the flowers of the ‘‘ Wild Plum,” which bears 
a sweet fruit, and ‘‘ Snag-blossom ” for the “‘ Wild 
Damson,”’ which bears a bitter fruit. See SLOES. 
Dr. Watson suggests that the ‘‘ Wild Plom ” here 
referred to may be Prunus domestica, which occurs 
wild in many places. 
SLONE-BLoom. Blossom of the Black-thorn, 
Prunus spinosa. 
SMALLAGE or SMALLEDGE. A general English 
name for the Wild Celery, Apiwm graveolens. 
SMALL AND PRETTIzs. Virginia Stock, Mal- 
colmia maritima (Compton, near Yeovil). More 
generally called LITTLE AND PRETTY. 
SMALL CLOVER. Several school-children at 
Brompton Regis give me this as a local name 
for the Black Medick, Medicago lupulina, but Dr. 
Watson tells me it is more likely that the Small 
Yellow Trefoil, Trifolium dubium, is intended. 
Most people would confuse the two plants, and 
jn fact even botanists sometimes do so. 
_ Smart-Ass (or ARSE). A very_common name 
in West Somerset for the Water Pepper, 
Polygonum Hydropiper. See ARSE-SMART. 
SMELL Foxes. A school-girl at Oakhill gives 
