1859.] SORB-TREE. 99 



garded with the same superstitious regard that in Scotland was 

 attached to the Mountain Ash or Rowan-tree. 



Here then we have a motive^ and a very strong one. When 

 Edward III. held the Duchy of Aquitaine, he was attended by 

 his nobles with their retainers ; probably many a Worcestershire 

 man was there ; and if we take into consideration the fact that 

 at that time, and even at a later date, witchcraft was believed in 

 by all, from the prince to the peasant, and if they observed that 

 this tree was made use of in France as an antidote to it, some of 

 them would very probably be anxious to take such a treasure to 

 their native land, and would spare no pains in accomplishing 

 what they thought so desirable an object. 



I do not think that the retainers of a noble would find the 

 difficulties insurmountable in bringing trees of this description 

 for so long a journey, if they were small ones ; but I still think 

 that a recluse would, unless in the shape of a stafi", afterwards 

 stuck into the earth, as Joseph of Arimathea is said to have 

 done by the Glastonbury Thorn. 



Perhaps the readers of the ' Phytologist^ may think that they 

 have had enough of the old Sorb, but being under a somewhat 

 different impression upon the subject to what I was in 1856, I 

 trust that you will give me the opportunity of correcting myself. 



BEITISH FERNS ABOUT WARRINGTON. 



By James F. Robinson. 



Warrington, considering its geological formation (not being 

 limestone), is remarkably rich in the Cryptogamic portion of 

 the Vegetable Kingdom, known as Ferns, and may rank next to 

 Settle, in Yorkshire, which certainly is the richest locality in all 

 England. Woolston, which lies to the east of the town, is very 

 low, boggy land, where such Ferns as the Osmunda delight to 

 flourish. Appleton, on the contrary, is to the south, and very 

 hniy ; this certainly is the best botanizing ground, and where we 

 may expect to find all the rarer varieties and species. It com- 

 prises within a very small radius about twenty species, and more 

 than thirty species and varieties, viz. : — 



Polypodiace(B. 

 Polypodium vulgare. Common about Burton Wood. 



