472 OBSERVATIONS ON 



BLACKTHORN. 



This tree usually blossoms while cold N.E. winds blow; so 

 that the harsh rugged weather obtaining at this season, is 

 called by the country people, blackthorn winter. WHITE. 



IVY BERRIES. 



Ivy berries afford a noble and providential supply for birds 

 in winter and spring; for the first severe frost freezes and 

 spoils all the haws, sometimes by the middle of November ; 

 ivy berries do not seem to freeze. WHITE. 



HOPS. 



The culture of Virgil's vines corresponded very exactly 

 with the modern management of hops. I might instance in 

 the perpetual diggings and hoeings, in the tying to the stakes 

 and poles, in pruning the superfluous shoots, &c. but lately I 

 have observed a new circumstance, which was a neighbouring 

 farmer's harrowing between the rows of hops with a small 

 triangular harrow, drawn by one horse, and guided by two 

 handles. This occurrence brought to my mind the following 



- ipsa 



" Flectere luctantes inter vineta juvencos." Georgic II. 



Hops are diecious plants : hence perhaps it might be 

 proper, though not practised, to leave purposely some male 

 plants in every garden, that their farina might impregnate the 

 blossoms*. The female plants without their male attendants 

 are not in their natural state : hence we may suppose the 

 frequent failure of crop so incident to hop-grounds ; no other 



* [This is, I "believe, now the general piactice. The suggestion is one 

 among many instances of Gilbert White's remarkable acu-teness of obser- 

 vation. T. B.] 



