196 THE WILD-FLOWERS OF SELBORNE 



of the country, " observed a little churchyard, where 

 the graves are accustomed to be all sowen with sage." 



In the meadow on the other side of the Roman wall 

 a host of golden daffodils dance and flutter in the 

 breeze every spring, having perhaps originally escaped 

 from some cottage garden. Such, however, was not 

 the case with a colony of wild tulips which still con- 

 tinues to flourish in the parish. The wild plant is 

 quite distinct from the garden varieties, and possesses 

 a delicious fragrance which may be detected at some 

 distance. Almost extinct in the south of England, it 

 may still be found in one or two localities. In the 

 "park" or meadow below Gilbert White's old house 

 at Selborne, the long narrow leaves come up sparingly 

 every year, but the bulbs seldom put forth a flower. 

 In a chalk-pit not far from Selborne a few flowers 

 may be gathered at the right season; while in our 

 parish the bulbs blossom abundantly every year. 



A stroll along the sea-banks in summer, with the 

 tide on one hand and the salt marshes on the other, 

 is interesting to the naturalist. Wheatears frequent 

 the banks, and perhaps a kingfisher may be seen. 

 The chatter of the sedgebird will be heard in the 

 reed beds, and at any rate some noteworthy plant 

 will be met with. Wild beet is abundant all along 

 the shore. This plant, known among the villagers as 

 wild spinach, is the origin of our garden beetroot and 

 of the mangel-wurzel of our fields. The young shoots 

 and leaves are often gathered in spring and used as 

 a substitute for spinach. On one spot in the parish 

 a considerable quantity of the real samphire may be 

 found, growing, not, as is usually the case, on rocks 

 or cliffs, but among the shingle on the shore just out 

 of reach of the flowing tide. 



