1 6 Middlewood. 



ments a spectacle most diverting. Compare the October 

 stems with other living plants, and then with certain fos- 

 sils, and these curious Telmateias, like their kindred, of 

 which there are nine or ten, declare themselves the 

 representatives of a plant-dynasty that in all its other 

 types and forms expired tens of thousands of years ago. 

 More than any other plants on the face of the earth, 

 they take us into the infinite Past. Several other 

 species of horse-tail occur about Manchester, and very 

 abundantly, but none are so well entitled to the name. 

 The common field horse-tail grows on every piece of 

 waste clay-land, and the sylvan horse-tail opens its 

 pretty cupolas in nearly every wood. The groves at 

 Prestwich abound with it. 



The hill ascended, a few yards' walk by the side of 

 the canal brings into view a swing-bridge, crossing by 

 which we are close to Mr Bullock's farm, held by 

 his ancestors of the same name, under the Leghs of 

 Lyme, for three centuries. Now we descend rapidly, 

 soon renewing companionship with the stream the 

 path, upon arrival at the brink, changing to the 

 opposite side of the water, which, as previously, is clear 

 and voicefuL The distance to this point from Disley 

 is about six furlongs. Across the stream, we are in 

 the beautiful grove or natural plantation called MIDDLE- 

 WOOD that long and romantic strip of sylvan covert 

 which borders the right-hand side of the railway just 

 below Disley, and which in some parts forms a green 



