180 CHAPTER XXIV. 



prickly, and almost, if not quite, as beautiful. I 

 mean the Catycotome spinosa. 



In one respect this plant must yield to Gorse ; 

 it cannot boast of flowers the whole year round. 

 Calyc-otome is used everywhere for fences ; not in the 

 living state, but dried, when it becomes if possible 

 more disagreeable to meddle with. 



Again, the foliage of our Holly (Ilex aquifolium) 

 is not more defensive than that of the Holm oak 

 (Quercus Ilex) when stunted to a shrub. 



The harsh Rubia peregrina, confined in Britain 

 to the south-western counties, is one of the commonest 

 Stellates in the district. Madder (R. tinctoria) is 

 so closely allied that it is sometimes considered to 

 be a mere variety of the peregrina. 



And as for the Smilax, we have no climbing 

 plant that we can compare with it for hooks and 

 prickles.* 



The wild Asparagus, with its innumerable little 

 spikes, is as abundant here as on the rocky shores 

 of Greece, where it strove in vain to shelter the 

 fair Perigyne from the fiery suit of the Sun-god 

 Theseus. The descendants of the nymph held the 

 plant sacred. The wild Asparagus may have its 

 uses, but as a shelter from the sun it is certainly 

 inferior to every other plant that grows. It is still 

 to be found on Asparagus Island, at Kynance Cove, 

 Cornwall. The wild Asparagus is said to have a 

 better flavour than the cultivated : we never tried it. 

 Our Christmas decorations usually consist of Aspara- 

 gus, Smilax, Mastic, and Ivy, with an odd scrap of 

 Holly and Mistletoe, purchased in the market. 



* Smilax aspera, the Bacchic ivy of the ancients. T. H. 



