154 RAMBLES BY THE KIBBLE. [-^"^^ 



holes. I must here notice the mossy character of some of the 

 fields^ telling of ancient forests and of subsequent ravages of 

 water J when doubtless the river, lake-like, occupied the whole 

 of this part of the valley. In the wood by the wayside there 

 grows, very plentifully and very luxuriantly, the handsomest of the 

 Fern tribe indigenous to the British Islands — the Royal Fern 

 {Osmunda regalis) . In the same wood, the Climbing Corydalis 

 {Corydalis claviculata) is very abundant, and is scarcely to be 

 met with elsewhere in the district, at any rate not nearer tha^ 

 the neighbourhood of Chorley, where it is occasionally found. 

 The scarce Cyperus- like Carex {Cai\'x Pseudo-cyperus) grows in d 

 ditch by the side of a wood near here, and the Moneywort [Lysi- 

 machia nummularia) is very abundant upon a bank below a wood 

 at Lower Brockholes. The Hemp Agrimonj \Eup at oy^ium can- 

 nabinum) is iiot unfrequent in wet places about the sides of woods 

 both at Higher and Lower Brockholes. The whole valley about 

 here is good ground for the botanist. About Red Scar, as well 

 as at Brockholes. at Elston, at Sainlesbury, and up to Balderston, 

 the botanist enjoys many a ramble. The rare Broad-leaved Rag- 

 wort {Senecio saracenicus) grows by the Ribble side beyond Red 

 :Scar, and is reported also in some places higher DJ6i'hy'^sti''e4'ri(i\ 

 Upon one occasion, in a quiet ramble by Brockholes, 1 met with 

 a person searching a cop-side fqr plants, I got into conversation 

 with him, and soon fouiid that he 'was a herbalist. ~ tte'w'a'^^not 

 very lucky in his search ; he was after Grround-ivy, which he ex- 

 plained was very useful for swellings and stomach complaints. 

 Some persons have great faith in botanical remedies. I knew 

 that Tunbrook, at Red Scar, was often visited for the berry of 

 a plant, which is sought, for from other motives than a mere love 

 pi science,. ' t allude 1:6 ttie'Qpmmori Black Bryoriy (Ttrfius'bdm- 

 muhis), which is said to be efficacious in the cure of black eyes, 

 even more than the old-fashioned remedy for that not uncommon 

 oqmpIaint,-n'l mea/i Solomon's SealV which^' f ri ' 'Grerafde's ' diay, 

 was regarded as a specific for the removiai of the effects of heavy 

 "manual exercise.^' The quaint old botanist says, " The root 

 ©r Solomon's Seaje, stamped whiile^ it iB fr-esh "arid gi-^^ef,' and 

 a!pplied, taketh away in one night, or two at tlie most, aiiy 

 bruise, blacke or blew spotSj gotten by falls, or wom6ns wilful- 

 nesse in. stumbling upon 'their'- hasty husband's fistsV oi'^'s^Vch 

 like!'' '"' "'""■' " ^''■''^'^^^^•^'^^^■■^''^ •-■■-.. -u,. ,:..u.i •^avaiiovcJ 

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