ON THE CHALK DOWNS 113 



more often found in woods, and bearing a loose spike of 

 red or greenish blossoms. This, too, is commonest on 

 chalky soils, but is not confined to them. 



To turn from the miniature plants of the open turf to 

 the large and bushy growths of the warrens is almost to 

 pass into a new natural kingdom. Yet luxuriant and brilliant 

 in colour as are the bugloss and mulleins and other plants 

 in this group, almost all have the typical distinction of the 

 chalk flora, and none is merely rank or weedlike, except 

 possibly the large wild scentless mignonette. Attractive 

 as well as unusual are the rough grey leaves of the henbane 

 and common mullein, relieved against the dark green of 

 the yews and junipers ; and the yellow torches of the 

 mullein blossom, and the many- branched candelabra of the 

 bright blue viper's bugloss, make a brilliant contrast with 

 the many shades of green luxuriating on a downland warren 

 in a soft and showery June. 



On this dry soil ample rain as well as sufficient sunshine 

 is required to bring the midsummer vegetation to full 

 growth. Henbane and deadly nightshade and mullein and 

 bugloss die down annually to the ground, when they are 

 not purely annuals, and thus depend greatly upon the 

 character of each individual season. Droughty years pro- 

 duce scanty and stunted henbanes; if the year before has 

 been a favourable one, the dry white skeletons of their 

 predecessors far out-top their flaccid stems and shrunken 

 trumpets. Henbane blossoms are creamy white, closely 

 veined with purple; they recall a little the pattern of the 

 garden salpiglossis, and though they are never so large, 

 even in the richest years, they are often grouped in clusters. 

 The plant is sticky as well as woolly to the touch, and has 

 a strong smell like a blackcurrant bush. A large henbane 

 may reach a height of two feet ; but its equally poisonous 



