SEPTEMBER. 335 



pestilent scented and ginger mushrooms, for all 

 the world, the exact resemblance of a Simnel- 

 cake. 



" Our Saxon ancestors," says Verstegan, 

 " called this month Gerst-monath, for that barley 

 \vhich that month commonly yielded was called 

 gerst, the name of barley being given unto it 

 by reason of the drinke therewith made, called 

 beere, and from beerlegk it came to be berligh, 

 and thence to barley. So in like manner beere- 

 heym y to wit, the overarching, or covering of 

 beer, came to be called berkam and afterwards 

 barme, having gotten I wot not how many names 

 besides." 



Saffron used in medicine and in dying, con- 

 sisting of the pointals of the crocus, is this 

 month gathered, and prepared in large quanti- 

 ties, particularly at Saffron Walden. Apples 

 are gathered and cider and perry are made. 

 Herrings pay their annual visit to England in 

 September and afford a rich harvest to the 

 inhabitants of its eastern and western coasts. 

 Towards the end of the month the nuthatch 

 visits our orchards, particularly those which 

 abound with nut-trees. 



