336 KENTISH BOTANY. [Nove^Jibcr, 



There are no cottages under the cliff, but about a mile from the 

 Spout there is the hull of a ship, removed a little distance from 

 the sea, and fitted up for the abode of coastguardmen and their 

 families. 



On the shingle, not far from this semi-marine residence, some 

 fine plants of Cakile maritima introduced themselves, and from 

 these we replenished our vasculums. Crithmum maritimum was 

 also plentiful, and within reach. About Eastwear Bay and the 

 Lydden Spout the gathering of Samphire is not so formidable a 

 process as it was on Shakspeare's Cliff in the days of good King 

 Lear. There were no samphire-gatherers here but ourselves, 

 and our wants were soon supplied ; we had no occasion to risk 

 limb or lith to procure all that was wanted for our purposes. 



Near the Spout there were some plants of Frankenia Icevis, 

 well grown, barely in flower, just enough to enable us to state 

 positively that the plant grows here. We spent half an hour 

 looking for Euphorbia Par alias, which we could hardly have over- 

 looked if it had been there when we were, and then we ascended 

 the undercliff and gathered some large plants of Orobanche ca- 

 ryophyllacea, all quite withered. This rare Kentish plant is nearly 

 as tall as 0. major, and it was invariably found near Galium 

 Mollugo ; hence it was inferred, naturally enough, that it grows 

 on the roots of the latter plant. This however we did not stay 

 to determine, for our appetite reminded us that we had not yet 

 breakfasted, and it was now eleven o'clock, and we had four good 

 miles to walk before we coiild reach our hotel ; therefore we left 

 the Orobanche, ascended the four hundred and forty-four steps, 

 inclined planes and all, reaching the top of the cliff in about 

 fifteen minutes after we commenced the ascent by the steps. 



Our nearest way to Folkestone was along the top of the cliff, 

 across some fields to the Dover road, by which we entered this 

 ancient town the second time, but the first time in broad day- 

 light. 



The situation of Folkestone is very similar to that of Dover, 

 only the combe in which the former is built is not nearly so deep 

 nor so extensive as that which contains the latter ; or, in other 

 words, the hills about Dover are considerably steeper and higher 



Deal, and Dover, to Folkestone ; but as it is a cornfield plant, it may possibly have 

 tumbled or was blown over the cliif, as the Isle of Wight Stock may have been 

 driven by the storms into the sheltered nooks where it grows. 



