DIFFICULTIES, DUMPS AND DIMPLES. l^J 



an amateur has done, for it is so peculiar that it forms a 

 genus by itself amongst the Saxifrages. At last, however, 

 he succeeded one wet Sunday, after renewed careful exami- 

 nation, proudly announcing the discovery to John next day ; 

 and the Parnassia carried to both of them, independently 

 altogether of its great beauty, a certain delightful charm, to 

 be understood only by those who have tasted the like joy 

 of discovery after long protracted search in any scientific 

 pursuit. 



One of the chief difficulties these poor students had, 

 was to obtain the requisite text-books for advancing in the 

 subject, and identifying the rarer species when found for 

 microscopes and other instrumental appliances were out of 

 the question, and never were possessed by them. " Galpin " 

 was good as far as it went, but it was too brief, and required 

 much previous technical knowledge. The best and most 

 workable book then existing on British plants was the 

 " British Flora " of Jackson Hooker, since deservedly digni- 

 fied as Sir William. The first edition appeared in 1830, four 

 years before Charles Black came to Whitehouse, though 

 Hooker's " Flora Scotica," which they never then saw, had 

 been issued in 1821. But the work was at a ransom price 

 for them, being in two volumes, at something like a guinea 

 apiece. It was a vain hope, to all appearance, that they 

 should ever see it, and still less possess a copy. 



One day, Charles met the eccentric innkeeper of May- 

 field, who had a great respect for the gardener, and they 

 entered into conversation. Davidson said he understood 

 that he liked Botany. His son Geordie the mention of 

 whose name drew moisture to the old man's eye had got a 

 big book about Botany, which the father knew nothing of; 



