BOTANY. 1 05 



believing tliat the plan of carefully working upon such localities separately 

 is the most effectual way of perfecting our local and national Floras. 



Shibdcn -dale opens out a little below Queensbury, and is divided from 

 the town of Iluiifax on its western side by a long range of hills, including 

 Ringby, Pule Hill, Claremount, and Beacon Hill. On the slopes of these 

 hills are woods and plantations, which in summer are verdant with foliage 

 of the mountain ash and the oak, and bright with floAvers. In the open 

 spaces and on the hill tops are some good samples of the old English Home- 

 stead, in one of which the celebrated Sir Thomas Brown author of " Urn 

 burial," " ^lateria Medica " resided for a period. On this side of the 

 dale is the Shibden " Spa " containing a spring of mineral water which is 

 strongly impregnated with iron and sulphur. One of the most interesting 

 buildings is Scout Hall with its numerous windoAvs and ornamental door- 

 way. It stands at the foot of a dark overhanging wood, Avhose beauties 

 we regret to say are being rapidly buried by the refuse from a neighbour- 

 ing quarry. We remember some years ago when the road (now completely 

 buried) which led along the foot of this wood was the most i^leasing 

 entrance to Shibdeu-dale, passing by Lee Hou.se and under an avenue of 

 trees, the place was redolent with the blossom of the wild Kose, and the 

 Red Lychnis, and here might be enjoyed the cool shade of summer, or 

 within a few steps the fall blaze of noon-day. Near the llall stand two 

 Sycamore trees (Acer Pseudo-platanus) the largest in the valley with 

 immense spreading branches, and in front is still to be seen the decayed 

 and hollow trunk of a Yew-tree (Tasus baccata.) The Yew is seldom 

 seen in this neighbourhood except in close proximity to a large house, or 

 in a churchyard where its dark evergreen foliage serves to be symbolical 

 with the immortality of the remains theve deposited. In the daj's of 

 archery the Yew was used for making bows on account of its toughness, 

 and the juice of the plant is said to have been used for the poisoning of 

 arrows. It is a native of mountaluous woods growing on the edges of 

 limestone cliffs whose light-grey color gives a striking contrast to the 

 foliage of the tree. It is very slow of growth and equally slow in decay 

 and is one of the longest lived trees of the forest. 



Near Shibden Head is the Upper Shibden Hall commanding a prospect 

 over one of the most beautiful dales in Yorkshire, whose vegetation starts 

 up in response to the season of spring and summer, almost portraying the 

 freshness and splendour of a tropical valley, and whose hills are covered 

 with golden- colored blossoms sending forth their honey-like fragrance, 



