84 OUT OF DOORS. 



yet unfaded. I suppose that the flower has held its 

 own because, owing to its situation, nearly at the foot 

 of a hill, the bottom of the quarry is always moist, and 

 whatever warmth there may be it is sure to get. And 

 in the middle of the quarry stands a solitary oat plant, 

 tall, fair, and strong, its leaves broad and healthy, and 

 its graceful pendulous spikelets waving gently in the 

 slight breeze that can find its way into the quarry. 



Thick and dark lie the fallen leaves, coloured with 

 the yet unfaded reds and browns and yellows of autumn. 

 Without moving I can note sycamore, maple, oak, 

 Spanish chestnut, horse chestnut, beech, birch, elm, 

 and ash. It is worthy of notice to remark how capri- 

 cious are the trees in retaining or parting with their 

 leafage, and how, when two trees of the same species 

 stand near each other, one will be entirely bare, while 

 the other will be half clad with fairly green leaves. 

 This difference is evidently to be attributed to the 

 particular soil into which the chief roots of the tree 

 have penetrated. 



The soil in this spot is exceedingly varied, all sorts 

 of strata turning up close to each other. For example, 

 the eastern and southern sides of this quarry are soft, 

 friable sand, whereas the western side is rough con- 

 glomerate. Of the latter material, indeed, our hill is 

 mostly composed. It is very healthy, no doubt, and 

 has the advantage of creating scarcely any mud, so that, 

 even after a long and steady rain, a lady can safely walk 

 in the roads, provided that her boots be reasonably 

 stout. 



