Tussy-mussies 



305 



Island ; the dense clusters of tiny aromatic flowers 

 form a thick cushioned carpet under our feet. Lord 

 Bacon says in his essay on Gardens : 



" Those which perfume the air most delightfully, not 

 passed by as the rest, but being trodden upon and crushed 



"White Umbrellas of Elder." 



are three : that is, Burnet, Wild Thyme, and Water-Mints. 

 Therefore you are to set whole alleys of them, to have the 

 pleasure when you walk or tread." 



Here we have an alley of Thyme, set by nature, 

 for us to tread upon and enjoy, though Thyme 

 always seems to me so classic a plant, that it is far 

 too fine to walk upon ; one ought rather to sleep and 

 dream upon it. 



