14 THE FRUITS OF THE COUNTRY-SIDE 



they lend," as the poet hath it, though the views of its 

 neighbours in the hedgerow might be somewhat differently- 

 expressed, including such mere prose as aggression, suffoca- 

 tion, and such like unpoetic language. The clustering 

 flowers, a whitish-green in colour and fragrant in odour, 

 are succeeded by the fruits, each little fruit, botanically 

 called an achene, being terminated by a long and feathery 

 awn of a pale silvery-grey colour. These clusters are 

 produced abundantly and form a very noticeable and 

 attractive feature. From their soft, fluffy appearance and 

 colour the plant is sometimes called " Old Man's Beard," 

 while it is also known as "Virgin's Bower," from an old legend 

 that the Virgin Mary, during the flight into Egypt, found 

 rest and shelter beneath its shade from the noonday heat. 

 The plant lends itself very happily to covering and festoon- 

 ing trellis-work, and the clothing of our summer-house 

 if we so please.^ When gathered in the fruiting stage it 

 retains its charm for a long time, and is a notable addition 

 to our hedgerow bouquet, no longer, as in the Summer, 

 of floral gatherings, but now selected from the wealth of 

 Autumn, of scarlet hips and crimson haws, of the coral- 

 like fruits of the spindle tree, the orange-yellow foliage 

 of the beech, the . deep purple-bronze of the guelder rose 

 sprays — a mass of beautiful and most varied colour. 



' As concerning Arbors, Seats, etc., in Orchards and Gardens, I advise 

 men to make them of Fniit-trees, rather then of Privet, or other rambling 

 stuffe, which yeelds no profit, but only for shade. If you make them of 

 Cherry-trees, Plum-trees, or the like, there will be the same advantage for 

 shade, and all the Fruits superadded. All that can be objected is, that 

 Fruit-trees are longer in growing up then Pfivef, Virgine Bower, or the like, 

 whereof arbors are commonly made. It is answered. Though Fruit-trees 

 are something longer in covering an Arbor, then some other things, yet 

 they make sufficient amends in their lasting and bearing fruits. — Austen's 

 Treatise of Fruit Trees, 1657. 



