VINCA. ERYTHRjEA. 145 



Foulden, and about Ayton-Castle ; and most other seats have their 

 Ashes worthy of sight, or even plantations of them that are fit settle- 

 ments of the Rookery. Some reader may happen to remember the 

 Ash which grew in the tower of Ancroft Church, and rose above the 

 parapet, conspicuous afar. It is properly introduced into the figure 

 of the church given by the Rev. Mr. Raine in his Hist. N. Durham, 

 p. 215; but the interesting "landmark" was rooted out during some 

 late improvements. — An old Ash known by the name of the Chapel- 

 tree, and which grows on the chapel knowe, marks the site of the 

 ancient chapel of Leitholm, connected with the monastery of Eccles. 

 See Stat. Ace. Benvicks. p. 50. 



The Ash is all but the last tree that comes into leaf, and when all 

 others around it smile in the freshness of their spring foliage, it draws 

 attention by its nakedness, and by the black knobs of unblown^ 

 flowers that can scarcely be said to ornament the branches. It was 

 a rude stage of farming, when it was wont to be said, — " It is not too 

 late to sow beer when the leaves of the Ash cover the Pyet's nest," — 

 which may be about the middle of June. Another saying of the 

 same period gives us the then estimate of its value, — " The Ash will 

 buy the horse before the Oak is worth the saddle." — And it seems 

 that an Ash will sometimes — I never saw one — have leaves without 

 a terminal leaflet. This is an Even-Ash, as the common tree is an 

 Odd-Ash ; and the former is sought for by young aspirants, who 

 place a leaf inside their shoe, and thus secure a sweetheart. 



" Find even-leafed Ash, and even-leafed Clover, 

 And you 'U see your true love before the day 's over." 



From Notes and Queries, ii. p. 259*. 



20. Vinca minor. %i)t ^rriiuinfek. In woods or deans, planted 

 out, but in many places quite naturalized. May, June. 



371. Erythr^a CENTAURiuM. Commou Centaury. Dry banks, 

 not uncommon, and scattered over the district. It is a pretty plant 

 flowering in summer and autumn. 



372. E. LiTTORALis = Chironia littoralis, Bot. Guide North, ii. 

 p. iii. = E. linarifolia. — D. On Ross links; and on Holy Island. — - 

 N. On the links S. of Bamborough Castle. June, July. — "Erythraea 

 littoralis, I think, must be considered a good species ; it is scattered 

 over several hundred acres in Holy Island ; and though I met with 

 many gigantic specimens, still the peculiar shape of the leaf and mode 

 of growth were retained, while Erythraea centaurium grows on the 

 sandy sea-beach near Tynemouth, vdthout being altered by situation." 



entail, — and the Ha' has gone to a stranger in the land. The " dead 

 bouse " of the Johnstons of Hutton-ha — Border-men — is in the parish 

 church-yard, and participates their fallen fortunes ; and the old flagged 

 roof of it is actually made forest with a group of small Ash-trees ! 



* In the book quoted, it is "odd-leafed Ash," but this must be a 

 mistake, for there could be no difficulty, and consequently no luck, iu 

 finding such a leaf. 



VOL. I. L 



