76 THE FRUITS OF THE COUNTRY-SIDE 



from the Anglo-Saxon gad, or goad, a pointed stick, by 

 means of which the slow-going oxen at plough were 

 induced to develop, if even very temporarily, some little 

 accession of energy. In some old books, the writers, led 

 off on a wrong scent in the matter of derivation, call it 

 the hound's-berry. 



HONEYSUCKLE (Lonicera Periclymenum) 



The Honeysuckle, so well known and so justly appre- 

 ciated, is probably better known to most people when it 

 is wreathing the hedgerows and encircling the hedgerow 

 trees with its wealth of fragrant blossom, than in its 

 fruiting stage, yet under this latter condition it is by no 

 means lacking in grace and attractiveness. Doubtless 

 some ninety-nine per cent, of our readers have in their 

 younger days, as they rambled down the country lanes, 

 pulled the blossoms for the sake of the honey at their 

 bases, and need, therefore, no explanation of its familiar 

 name. It may perhaps, however, be news to some to 

 know that our forefathers called the meadow clover a 

 honeysuckle as well, and for the same reason. In Anglo- 

 Saxon plant lists we find the honigsucle mentioned, but 

 we cannot quite definitely say which plant was intended. 

 In one early manuscript we find the rede hony suckle 

 gres included, but this was evidently the red clover, all 

 fodder plants being even now in agricultural lists often 

 considered as grasses, and so called. To-day, however, 

 we have but one candidate for the name of honeysuckle, 

 the graceful plant that throws its branches far and wide 

 over the other plants of the hedge or copse. 



