1862.] KENTISH BOTANY. 39 



past ten ; tlius leaving eight or nine hours for his researches, 

 and ample time for his return. 



The writer of the following memoranda of a journey to Can- 

 terbury on the 2nd of July, offers the readers of the ' Phyto- 

 logist^ the result of his experience of the pleasures and advan- 

 tages of similar excursions. 



Two are better than one, both for counsel and for action ; and 

 therefore the use of the plural pronoun is not only justifialile 

 but necessary ; in a word, to cut short needless explanations, ive 

 left Canterbury about five or ten minutes past eleven, and walked 

 along the Dover road through the pretty village of Bridge, (all 

 the villages here are pretty,) and over the racecourse (Bailiam 

 Downs),* onwards to the place where the Folkestone road 

 branches off from that to Dover. On the right is Broome Park, 

 which was to be the utmost extent of our journey. 



Barham Downs are about four miles from Canterbury and 

 they extend about four miles to the south, occupying the summit 

 of the chalk hills, which extend from this ancient city to Dover, 

 the most ancient port of Kent, The scenery on the right hand 

 is beautiful, even in this beautiful part of England. There is a 

 series of parks of noble dimensions, and abounding with first- 

 rate trees, and turf of the richest herbage and intensest green. 



The noticeable plants on the racecourse were what are usual 

 in similar localities. The Grasses were chiefly Brachypodium 

 jAnnatum, Avena pratensis, Koeleria cristata, Festuca ovina, F. 

 duriuscula, etc. Among other plants, the little and elegant 

 species Asperula cynanchica abounded ; Spircea Filipendida was 

 not scarce; and the whole Orchid family was represented by a 

 few solitary and small examples of Orchis pyramidalis. 



At the borders of cornfields, a few miles along the downs, 

 Cerastium arvense was gathered, and among them some very 

 dwarf examples, which we thought might, Avhcre none better 

 were forthcoming, supply the place. of of C. strictum. 



* Barbain Down, or Boarliam Down, was so called by our Saxon progenitors 

 when it was better wooded than it is now. It was a favoui-ite resort of wild swine, 

 animals which aflbrded noble and valuable game to our athletic forefathers. " Bar- 

 ramdowne," as Lambarde calls it, "in the Saxon Barhamdune, the hill wiiere tlie 

 bores doe abide," is a spot of historical importance in the early annals of Eng- 

 land. Here Julius Caesar reviewed his army, and marched thence against the 

 Britons. Here Philip the king of France encamped his host, prepared to avenge 

 tlie Pope, who had been oll'ended by John ; and on these hills in the Barons' war 

 the Earl of Leicester mustered his host against King Henry III. 



