eS. . Saoe ~~ 
—s 
41 
Passing on to the plants of the Downs, he felt that their 
friend, Mr. Hilton, could say more than he could on that 
subject. One could, at any time, count at least twenty species 
of plants in a square yard. Yet, though dwarfed, like Japanese 
trees, everyone was perfect. On the steep slopes, especially to 
the north, there was wood, less in East than in West Sussex, 
mainly composed of beech,-—in places ash. Among _ these 
beechen groves, which at this time of the year afforded the most 
splendid greenery of which the country could boast, occurred 
some of our rarest orchids. In June the hills were yellow with 
furze bloom, and later they were purple with thyme. Near 
Seaford could be found Sese/¢ /ibanotis, in a small colony which 
must have entered England by a spur of Downs which formerly 
joined France. He had not time to say more on natural history. 
During the Napoleonic wars a great portion of the Downs was 
converted into arable land, but latterly a good deal had been 
allowed to go back, owing, he supposed, to the decreased price 
of wheat. But one still saw the staple industry of the Downs, 
the Southdown sheep, unequalled in the world, with sometimes 
the old-time sheep dog, and the old-time shepherd, who, if he 
had time to spare,—and usually he had plenty,—-could tell many 
a yarn while his dog was investigating one’s legs, and the “golfus 
vulgaris” was crying ‘“‘fore.” Among the disappearing features 
of the Downs were those famous landmarks the windmills, and 
another feature—not quite gone, but going slowly—the employ- 
ment of oxen for ploughing and carting. There was much more 
he could say if time permitted. He had attempted to be 
suggestive, not instructive. He could not instruct in all these 
matters, but he wanted to lead others to investigate them, and 
think them out for themselves. It not only added to the 
pleasure of a walk but added scientific knowledge, and, in spite 
of motors, there was no better way of studying Narure than 
walking. In conclusion, he trusted they would still be able to 
sing, ‘‘Oh who will o’er the Downs so free,” in spite of bridle 
paths and barbed wire. He hoped he had not wearied -them, 
_ but these studies had been the pleasure of his life. Also he felt 
with Rudyard Kipling : 
“Each to his choice, and I rejoice 
The lot has fallen to me 
In a fair ground—in a fair ground— 
Yea, Sussex by the sea!” 
