122 RAMBLES BY THE KIBBLE. [April, 



something of past dignity. Baines says it was built by the Sher- 

 burnes in 1666; it having formed a portion of the Stonyhurst 

 estate. There is, however, no record of it having been the resi- 

 dence of any one above the rank of a farmer. Passing the hall 

 we come upon Buckley Delf, a once-noted stone quarry, but which 

 some years since ceased to be worked, when the Corporation of 

 Preston diverted the bulk of the water of Cowley Brook, which had 

 previously furnished the motive power for the quarrying. It has 

 begun to assume the picturesque costume which follows the aban- 

 donment of such workings. It is a nice place for a botanist. 

 When I was last there, in company with my botanical friend, we 

 did not meet with any botanical rarities, but the steep banks and 

 hollows formed by the old workings of the delf were covered with 

 vegetation, comprising a great variety of plants, and including 

 many of our most popular favourites. Of Roses there were several 

 varieties, if not species, perhaps the most conspicuous of them 

 being the white Field Rose {Rosa arvensis), which here flourished 

 in random luxuriance, and which was also frequent in the neigh- 

 bouring hedges. The Bramble or Blackberry family [Rubus) had 

 also several representatives. The Wood Strawberry {Fragariavesca) 

 was abundant. It is a plant whose fruit is generally more popular 

 even with botanists (contrary to the general rule) than its blos- 

 soms, and one which adds materially to the attractions of the 

 old quarry, when the former is ripe, as indeed we experienced on 

 the occasion of one of our visits to the spot. The great white 

 Ox-eye, called in many places the Dog-daisy [Chrysanthemum Leu- 

 canthemum), figured very conspicuously, the pure white rays of 

 its blossoms contrasting beautifully with the rich green foliage 

 and gay colours surrounding it. That difficult tribe, the Hawk- 

 weed family, was represented by the shrubby broad-leaved Hawk- 

 weed [Hieracium sabaudum) and several other species. The Purg- 

 ing Flax [Linum catharticum) and the Wood Betony [Betonica 

 officinalis), two plants which hold important places in the rural 

 pharmacopoeia, Avcre plentiful, the former about the delf, and the 

 latter on the banks in the neighbourhood. We met with several 

 fine specimens of the Zigzag Trefoil [Trifolium medium), two or 

 three diffei'ent species of the Groundsel or Ragwort family 

 {Senecio), and great quantities of the great Horsetail [Equisetum 

 Telmateja) . There were many other descriptions of plants, too 

 numerous for especial mention, and, in fact, too common to re- 



