[April, 1861.] 97 



NORTHUMBEIAN BOTANY. 

 The Plants of Ratcheugh Crag. By W. R., Jun. 



A very young candidate for botanical renown makes his debut 

 this month in our pages, and the indulgence of the readers is 

 hereby bespoken, more out of deference to established custom 

 than from any inherent necessity there is of speaking for one 

 who can be safely trusted to tell his own story in his own way. 



We beg to state that we like the following paper : first, be- 

 cause it is a good one ; next, because it is short ; thirdly, because 

 the matter of it is expressed in brief, plain language ; and, lastly, 

 because it is written by a youth who evidently loves the subject, 

 and who has read the * Phytologist' with advantage both to 

 himself and to the public. It makes the heart of the liberal 

 sing for joy when the instruction brings forth fruit suitable for 

 the enjoyment of the recipient, and not unfit to be offered for 

 the information and gratification of others. 



Some readers of the ' Phytologist,' when they see the heading 

 of this article, may say, in what part of the world are these 

 crags which they are invited to visit ? I will therefore hasten 

 to inform them that the locality to which I wish to introduce 

 them is in "far away ^Northumberland." Ratcheugh Crag is 

 a range of low, basaltic cliffs, three miles to the east of Alnwick, 

 and about the same distance from the coast. The western side 

 of the crags, viz. that next to Alnwick, is formed of almost 

 perpendicular rocks, but it slopes gradually down on the eastern 

 side ; the entire length is about half a mile. It is divided into 

 two parts by a road which passes over the depression between 

 them, and it is with the larger or northern part chiefly, that I 

 intend to deal at present. 



It is somewhat in the shape of a crescent, with its points 

 towards the south and east, and its convex side facing the north 

 and west. There is an observatory on the top, in which a good 

 telescope is kept by his Grace the Duke of Northumberland. 

 The prospect from it is very fine, and extends from the east of 

 Berwickshire to the north-west of Durham, embracing almost all 

 the Northumbrian coast, and any one can readily obtain admis- 

 sion by applying to the person who has charge of it. I have 

 selected it, n^t because it is our best locality, — for there are 



N. S. VOL. V. o 



