184 Country Rambles. 



ful walk through Agecroft Park, beneath the woods, to 

 the foot of the dells; another, by diverging a little 

 to the left when out of the park, through a farm-yard, to 

 the river and viaduct; and if, instead of going through 

 the park, we turn up on the right among the cottages, it 

 is not difficult to penetrate the woods themselves, and to 

 find one or two paths over the hills, all tending to Prest- 

 wich as a common point. So numerous and varied are 

 the paths which converge hitherwards and in the direc- 

 tion of Clifton Aqueduct, that it is impossible to go 

 wrong. Were we to give a preference, it would be to 

 the walk first described, or that along the river-side, 

 commencing at Agecroft Bridge, and having the river 

 upon the right. The meadows abound with floral 

 treasures, the rosy bistort, the blue geranium, and the 

 fragrant ciceley, in their several seasons, and on the 

 banks, at the further part, near the canal, may be seen 

 the broad-leaved wood-stitchwort, Stellaria memorum, 

 and the yellow dead-nettle. Early in June is the 

 pleasantest time to go. The grass is then uncut, the 

 sycamores are hung with their honeyed bloom, the clover 

 glows like rubies, the white pagodas of the butterbur, 

 now gone to seed, stand up like the banners of an army, 

 and we find "theyfn-/ rose of summer, sweet blooming 

 alone," amid thousands of juvenile green buds. 



But the yellow dead-nettle is the most interesting ; it 

 gives so useful a lesson in practical botany. The stem 

 is perfectly square; the leaves grow two together; the 

 large golden-coloured blossoms are set in verandahs 



