CALLUNA. 137 



heather, in fixed proportions, once in three or four years *. " Tliis 

 encourages the growth of grass among the heath, by admitting the 

 influence of the sun and air, and by the manure communicated from 

 the ashes of the burnt heath ; and it gives leave for young and tender 

 plants of heath to spring up, in place of the old and unprofitable 

 woody plants that have been burnt down. When allowed to stand 

 unburnt for a good many years, heath is apt to disappear altogether, 

 after the application of fire ; which is often a misfortune on moors 

 unfit to produce better pasture plants, at least for many years after- 

 wards." Kerr's Berwickshire, p. 342. — In the Scotch Parliament, 

 February 1401, in the reign of Robert III., a statute was made " to 

 be observed through the whole realm, that there should be no muir- 

 burning, or burning of heath, except in the month of March ; and 

 that a penalty of 40 shillings should be imposed upon any one who 

 dared to contravene this regulation, which should be given to the 

 lord of the land where the burning had place." Tytler's Scotland, 

 iii. p. 110. In the first parliament of James I. of Scotland, holden 

 in 1424, this enactment appears to have been renewed with some 

 modification. " No man, under a penalty of 40 shillings, was to 

 burn muirs from the month of March till the com be cut down ; and 

 if any such defaulter was unable to raise the sum, he was commanded 

 to be imprisoned for 40 days." Ibid. p. 215. — It is reckoned bene- 

 ficial to the health of sheep on turnips, if they have liberty of grazing 

 out on heather. — In the Lammermuirs it is one mark of an early 

 season if this heath is in bloom before the r2th of Augustf. Usually 

 it begins to blow about the middle of the month, when the flowers 

 of our fields are mostly gone ; and it then becomes advantageous to 

 carry Bee-hives to the moors, as is practised in several places in the 

 district. There are few flowers which yield more honey, and since 

 they are twenty fold more numerous in the same space than any 

 others, the bees collect their stores with rapidity |. The plant ap- 



* " How grand the scene yon russet down displays. 



While far the withering heaths with moor-burn blaze ! 

 The pillar'd smoke ascends with ashen gleam ; 

 Aloft in air the arching flashes stream ; 

 With rushing, crackling noise the flames aspire, 

 And roll one deluge of devouring fire ; 

 The timid flocks shrink from the smoky heat. 

 Their pasture leave, and in confusion bleat. 

 With curious look the flaming billows scan, 

 As whirling gales the red combustion fan." — Leyden. 

 The burning of heather, whins and fern is observed often to bring rain 

 in its suite, and is sometimes productive of a very misty state of the atmo- 

 sphere. Notes and Queries, v. p. 302. I find this is believed to be true 

 in Berwickshire. 



t " Rustici, ex vario Ericae florendi modo, hyemis durationem et variam 

 asperitatem praesagiunt." Haller, Flor. Leven, p. 90. 

 X " Upon thy sloping banks, and lonely glens, 

 Thy wide extended moors, and mountains hoar, 

 My country, many a beauteous flower beneath 

 l^he eve of morning smiles in gvaoctulncss 



