IVY COBNEL. 143 



revels, but in the purer age it was dedicated as a crown to 

 the minstrel. 



" The Ivy meet for minstrel's hair." 



The largest tree of Ivy (Hedera helix), which I have ever 

 seen grows at Fountains Abbey, the pride of our county. Its 

 trunk measures three feet two inches round. 



There is another family in this Ivy group, that of the 

 Moschatel. Our only British member of this family is com- 

 mon in woods everywhere, flowering early in spring (Adoxa 

 moschatellina). Its pale green flowers grow five in a head at 

 the summit of the stalk, and a pair of three-parted leaves of 

 a similar hue are situated half-way down. Other lobed leaves, 

 each having three leaflets, spring from the root. The plant 

 used to be called the " Gloryless," from its incoospicuous 

 appearance, and its Latin name has a similar meaning. 



The Wild Cornel group is the only remaining one in this 

 order. One of our representatives is the Cornel or Dog-wood 

 of our hedges. It is a bushy shrub, with egg-shaped pointed 

 leaves, and clusters of cream-coloured flowers. The berries are 

 small, and of a purplish-black. Skewers are made of the wood. 

 The flowers are arranged in a small cyme. My specimen grew 

 at the foot of Hungary Hill, near Eipon. I have also gathered 

 it about Easby, and Edward has specimens from Hawkhurst. 

 The bark of some foreign species of Cornel is a good tonic 

 (Cornus sanguineus). The Cornel is mentioned by Homer as 

 furnishing weapons of war : 



*' His Cornel spear 

 Ulysses waved to rout the savage war." 



I know not whether this be the same plant as ours, or even 

 of the same family, but the specific name, sanguineus (bloody), 

 seems to strengthen the idea that the tree furnished the spear- 

 wood of the ancients. Indirectly it is still a warlike tree, for 

 its wood makes the best charcoal for the manufacture of gun- 

 powder. So well is this understood in Kent, that the land- 

 owners are jealous of planting the Cornel in their woods, 



