ui 



plant used in brewing ale and beer. The hop is a very quick 

 growing plant. A relative of mine had it covering his summer- 

 house, and he observed that the usual length of growth of all the 

 branches during the height of summer was about two or three inches 

 in twenty-four hours, and that during the middle of the day the 

 growth was equal in swiftness to the movement of the hour pointer 

 on a watch, or about half an inch in three hours. 



After passing How Hall, and descending the hill towards the 

 boat house, we may find the elegant purple loosestrife growing in 

 the hedge near the bottom of the hill. This species was referred 

 to by Mr. Taylor in his lecture three weeks ago, when he 

 pointed out that owing to the construction and nature of this plant 

 it could not be fertilized if it were left to itself, and that it is 

 necessary for the pollen of one flower to be carried to another 

 (perhaps at some distance) by insects in order to secure (by means 

 of cross fertilization) the production of seed. 



On reaching the lake we see the gravelly bottom covered 

 in many places with a green carpet formed by the leaves of the 

 shore weed, intermixed with an odd looking plant, Lobelia Dort- 

 manna, whose straight stem rises above the water, bearing sometimes 

 a solitary flower or a couple of flowers resembling the campanula, 

 or bell flower, to which it is closely allied. The leaves of this 

 plant, as well as those of the shore-weed (both of which are 

 generally under water), are hollow, having internally what appear 

 to be water-tight compartments, which no doubt serve some 

 purpose in the life and growth of the plant. 



If we now for a short time take a walk to the right, by the 

 side of the wood at the lake edge, we may, perhaps, get a glimpse 

 of the meteor-like motions of a small bird darting up and down 

 near the top branches of the trees, now on one side, now on 

 another, and apparently never at rest. This is the golden-crested 

 wren, the least of British birds (being only about the size of a 

 walnut). Montagu says of this species, "It is the only native bird, 

 I believe, which ever suspends its nest like so many of the tropical 

 birds, for I have always found it hanging under the broad bough 

 of a spruce, cedar, or yew tree ; the thick flat disposition of the 



