178 Country Rambles. 



going through the field upon the right, to where the great 

 arches support the roadway, and so find our way by the 

 carriage-track which leads to "The Park," the residence 

 of Mr. R. N. Philips, and eventually through the private 

 lodge-gate at the extremity, there emerging on to the 

 public path by the reservoir, at nearly the same point that 

 is reached by the lower one. The latter course has the 

 advantage of preserving the feet dry, should the path 

 by the stream be deceitful, as often happens after wet 

 weather, and also of providing views of the surround- 

 ing country, but the lower path is considerably more 

 romantic The private grounds are exceedingly pretty 

 and sylvan, and up to about half a century ago were used 

 as pheasant-preserves. Like those at Norcliffe, they are 

 not forbidden to legitimate and respectful request made 

 a few days previously, with the understanding that there 

 shall be no trowels carried. 



As stated in our second chapter, Mere Clough is fertile 

 in curious plants. In every part there is abundance in 

 particular of that beautiful reminder of pre-adamite 

 vegetation, the sylvan horsetail, in scientific language 

 Equisetum sylvaticum, in form resembling a tiny larch 

 tree, the leaves, which are no longer or stouter than a 

 violet stalk, curving outwards and downwards in the most 

 graceful way imaginable, and forming a succession of 

 little cupolas up the stem which they encircle. Varying 

 from a few inches to nearly two feet in height when 

 mature, and of a singularly delicate green, sometimes it 

 tapers off to a point, sometimes is crowned with a kind 



