861 



were directed against them. Near a barn on that side the river is 

 a station for Inula Helenium, where we had gathered it a short time 

 before. Further along the bank, near the new weir, we came upon a 

 magnificent patch of Epilobium angustifolium, along with Saponaria 

 officinalis and Hypericum A.ndrossemum, not uncommon. Numerous 

 plants of Helleborus fcetidus were seen within the edges of the wood, 

 but how far from any former habitation it is difficult to say, though at 

 present certainly more than half a mile ; for somewhat further we 

 came to some old, abandoned iron-works, among which were growing 

 Mentha sativa, several varieties, M. sylvestris and M. viridis inter- 

 spersed, and in large beds, probably the site of the former cottage- 

 garden of the overseer of the works. 



Exactly opposite this spot is the station for Polypodium calcareum, 

 mentioned in Newman's 'British Ferns,' p. 132, where it has probably 

 much extended itself, by means of its creeping rhizoma readily pene- 

 trating among the loose moss and decaying leaves, and coming up 

 often at a considerable distance from the parent plant. It now com- 

 pletely occupies the ground among the bushes for a considerable 

 space, and extends up the steep side of the hill, from the bank that 

 bounds the footpath along the river, over the greensward road that 

 leads to Symon's Yat, and mounting the broken, rough ground to- 

 wards the perpendicular wall of rocks that breast the summit, further 

 than we have had time to trace it. It occurs also under the tall, ro- 

 mantic rocks on the other side of the bend, known as the Caldwell 

 Rocks. 



We were now within a mile of Whitchurch again, after a most de- 

 lightful, and, as we thought, successful day, and reached that village 

 on our return, escaping the fascination of a neat little public house, 

 with the attractive sign of the " Symon's Yat," and the following 

 tempting lines conspicuously inscribed : — 



" The weather is very hot, 

 The roads are very dusty, 

 Do step in and take a pot, 

 I'm sure you must be thirsty." 



William Bennett. 



3rd mo., 1850. 



