JULY. 183 



and tall grasses. What a beautiful fruit and flower garden in which 

 to ramble 1 



The Greater Stitchwort has finished flowering. 



In a cottager's garden to-day we were particularly struck with 

 the various red flowers therein. We noticed the light red of the 

 Pinks, the slightly darker red of the Thrift, various dark and light 

 red Sweet Williams, some Scarlet Geraniums, Sweet Peas and Antir- 

 rhinums, what I took to be Orpine, and a very flaring and flower I 

 could not identify. I never saw such a picture of red bloom 

 before. We partook of lunch t0-day in a little hostelry called 

 The Chequers. The present superintendent of the Zoological 

 Gardens resided here not a great while since, and we noticed in 

 the glass cases on the walls a Landrail, a pied Pheasant, a Magpie, 

 and some Starlings. The country children were doing quite a 

 trade hereabouts by selling bunches of flowers to the cyclists who 

 here congregate during the Summer months. The view from 

 the massive stone bridge in his lordship's park surpasses description. 

 Below us the wide, placid stream. Throwing in a piece of bread, it 

 was immediately attacked by Roach, Rudd, Dace, Carp, Perch, 

 Tench, and other fish. The river here has not been fished for over 

 seven years, and the fish we saw to-day were nothing less than 

 several ounces in weight, whilst many would have turned the scale 

 at some pounds. We remember our fishing excursions here in the 

 past when a more genial owner than the present one resided at the 

 imposing redbrick house on the right bank, behind those sweet- 

 foliaged trees. Just on the brink of the water- fall, many yards wide, 

 half a dozen Canada Geese were to be seen, and lower down the 

 stream a good many Wild Ducks. We never saw such dark red Wild 

 Roses as those seen to-day in this earthly paradise. We have a short 

 chat with the policeman stationed on the bridge to pass people along, 

 and then proceed past the house and on through a veritable sea of 

 bracken. We hear the love song of the Grashopper, notice that 

 the berries of the Hawthorn are getting quite red, and point out to 

 our friend who accompanies us how it is possible to find one's way 

 out of a wood That is, by noting that Moss grows for the most 

 part and thickest on the North side. One of the woods we rambled 

 through to-day was only cut down three years ago. What rapid 

 progress it has made in three short years, to be sure. The last notes 

 in our Note Book refer to the keys on the Hornbeam, and the 

 quietude which exists on a Sunday evening at a country railway station. 



2nd. Showery, but very warm. We have had enough rain, I 



