THE MOOKLAND AND THE MOUNTAIN 



T EAVING the beaten paths, and striking for thf> 

 wild moorland and breezy heaths, beyond which 

 the blue mountain shows its silvery outline, we find 

 but comparatively few flowers of the early spring, but 

 the air is redolent of sweet perfume, 



" As if Nature's incense-pans had spilt, 

 And shed the dews i' the air." 



The sturdy Gorse shows its golden blossoms and wel- 

 comes the early bee. The variety now in bloom is 

 the Ulex Europoeus. It has, with the Dwarf Furze, 

 been showing a few buds during the winter. (See 

 Winter Flowers.) The bonny, bonny Broom (Saro- 

 ihamnus scoparius). 



" Yellow and bright as bullion unalloyed, 

 Her blossoms," 



gleam from the graceful dark green twigs, which wave 

 to and fro on the breezy moorland and make glad the 

 landscape. This is the Planta genista whose story 

 we have told, and which has a place in our "Materio 



