194 THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE CHAP. 
of the crop itself. On the other hand “turf” 
is peculiarly English, and no turf is more de- 
lightful than that of our Downs — delightful 
to ride on, to sit on, or to walk on. ‘The turf 
indeed feels so springy under our feet that 
walking on it seems scarcely an exertion: one 
could almost fancy that the Downs themselves 
were still rising, even higher, into the air. 
The herbage of the Downs is close rather 
than short, hillocks of sweet thyme, tufts of 
golden Potentilla, of Milkwort — blue, pink, 
and white —of sweet grass and Harebells : 
here and there pink with Heather, or golden 
with Furze or Broom, while over all are the 
fresh air and sunshine, sweet scents, and the 
hum of bees. And if the Downs seem full of 
life and sunshine, their broad shoulders are 
types of kindly strength, they give also an 
impression of power and antiquity, while every 
now and then we come across a tumulus, or a 
group of great grey stones, the burial place of 
some ancient hero, or a sacred temple of our 
pagan forefathers. 
1 M. Correvon informs me that the Gruyére cheese is supposed 
to owe its peculiar flavour to the alpine Alchemi!la, which is now 
on that account often purposely sown elsewhere. 
‘ 
SL Ul 
‘ 
a 
