ALONG THE RIVER 



A STRANGE and luxuriant vegetation runs riot by the margin 

 of lowland rivers at midsummer, and fosters abundantly the 

 life of insect and bird. Although the water-plants rose 

 slowly so long as the mists and frosts lay low along the 

 stream in the spring months, once the summer suns have 

 well warmed the marshy ground and shallow pools by the 

 river their undergrowth grows almost tropical. Of all 

 British plants the great water-dock has the most sumptuous 

 and African growth ; and when we see its huge and sappy 

 leaves gemmed in June with azure dragon-flies, it seems a 

 glimpse of some exotic flora and fauna. Many of the stream 

 plants are survivors of very ancient forms of vegetable life, 

 which have found a lasting refuge in the pools and channels ; 

 and they wear an alien air among the flowers of the pastures 

 and hedges. It often happens that the plants of a compara- 

 tively small stream are more interesting than those of the 

 land through which it flows. The alluvial ooze and free 

 water-supply of the river make them less dependent on 

 local richness in the soil ; so that in the heart of a dull clay 

 vale or bleak plain on the coal measures, where the land 

 flowers are surprisingly scarce and monotonously familiar, 

 there will often be some notable plant in the stream. The 



78 



