15 



Next to the Apple tree, the Mistletoe certainly likes best the 

 quick-growing Poplars, taken generally as a class, and in particu- 

 lar the Black Italian, Canadian, and Ontario varieties. Here its 

 luxuriant branches thrust themselves into notice, as well by 

 their contrast to the tree itself, as by their lofty situation. These 

 trees are now very much planted throughout the county, and no 

 sooner do they attain any size, than a number of them are sure 

 to become inhabited by the Mistletoe. In the central parts of 

 the county the proportion of trees which bear the viscum may be 

 said to vary from 10 to 30 per cent, according to the age and 

 position of the trees ; but in some districts, and in some isolated 

 groups of trees, they probably reach a stUl higher average. On 

 the upright Lombardy Poplar, {Popidus fastigiata,) on the con- 

 trary, there is no recorded instance of its growth in this county, 

 nor in England, that I am aware of, although examples have 

 been occasionally found on the Continent. 



On the Hawthoen the growth of Mistletoe is widely ex- 

 tended through the county, though it is much more common in 

 Bome districts than in others. Mr. Edwix Lees has observed 

 the Mistletoe to grow on Thorns, in lines extending across the 

 country, which he accounts for by the long observed fact, of the 

 Field-fares and Thrushes flying across the country in direct 

 lines : * Thorns within the line are numerously affected, "whilst 

 the Oaks and such uncongenial trees seem passed over, and the 

 Thoma out of this line are also comparatively free. 



On the Lime Thee, the Maple, the "Whitb Floweeixo 

 Acacia, and the Mountain Ash, the Mistletoe is not uncommonly 

 observed — considering the number of trees, the Maple does not 

 seem to bear Mistletoe so frequently here as in some other dis- 

 tricts ; but the Mountain Ash seems a favorite site for it, though 

 this tree is not very common in the County. 



It is singular that its growth on the Pear Teise should be 

 so very uncommon. In many works of reference this tree is 



• "When the Velts fly from North to South, it will be a hard winter," 

 they say in Worcestershire, "but if they fly in the reverse direction it will be 

 a mild one." The same thing is also said in reference to wild Geese and 

 Ducks. (Mr. J. S. Haywood, Worcester.) 



