136 KENTISH BOTANY. [May, 



the Marshlanders assemble to drive their ducks when full grown ; 

 those fit for the market they carry off, and turn the rest back 

 into the fen. 



While we were watching the sport of driving the ducks, we 

 had time to observe the vegetation of the depressed parts of the 

 Marsh, which in winter are filled with water, forming shallow 

 pools, and frequented by myriads of wild ducks, teal, widgeon, 

 and other aquatic birds. 



In August these shallows are comparatively dry, and the vege- 

 tation is very much the same as that which grows on muddy 

 seashores. The maritime plants of the Chenopod order abound 

 in these shallow depressions, viz. Atriplex and Salicornia. The 

 latter, however, was not nearly so luxuriant nor so succulent as 

 it is when in proximity to the salt water. The natives however 

 assured me that it made an excellent pickle. This reminds us 

 of the old saying, viz. '' Boil a stone in butter, and the broth or 

 bree will be good.^' Any vegetable substance, if fleshy, and not 

 deleterious, will make a palatable pickle if the pickling condi- 

 ments be savoury. 



When our friend arrived we all set out for the seashore be- 

 tween Dungeness and Kye. 



From Lydd to the seashore is a space of two or three miles ; 

 and the greater part of this space is covered by an extraordinary 

 mass of shingle, pure shingle, nearly two miles wide, and ex- 

 tending round Romney Marsh from near Dymchurch, to beyond 

 Dungeness towards Rye. The breadth of this singular bed, or 

 mound, or ridge of pebbles, is not everywhere so great as it is 

 about Dungeness Lighthouse, which is near the extremity of this 

 projecting corner, and it is everywhere backed by rich meadows 

 or cornfields.^ 



When cultivated, the shingle produces excellent, luxuriant 

 crops of clover ; wherever there is a bare covering of soil of but 

 a few inches deep, the corn and even bean crops were the heaviest 

 that we had seen. This was between the Ness, or point, and the 

 town of Lydd. 



The Flora of Dungeness did not appear to us to be a rich one. 



* The point of Dungeness gains so rapidly from the sea that it is said to have 

 extended above one mile seaward in hving memory. This extension is j^roduced 

 by the accumulation of shingle, which is in constant motion in this part of the 

 Channel, from east to west. 



