MAT. 69 



Then there are the white clusters of the cornel, 

 or dogwood, [Cornus sangidnea,) coming out 

 upon the red twigs of the bush, and blooming 

 occasionally all the summer, till winter is fully 

 in ; its leaves turning red at the season when 

 those of plants in general turn yellow. It is 

 found more especially on chalk, or limestone 

 soils, and its wood has often been burned as an 

 ingredient in making gunpowder. This shrub 

 was also called gaten tree, and Chaucer speaks 

 of its fruit as the gaten berrie. Its hard wood 

 was anciently used for martial instruments ; and 

 Virgil has celebrated the plant as " the good 

 and beautiful cornel." 



In some few of our native woods, we may 

 find the red and black currant bushes, and the 

 gooseberry also, all of which flower in May. 

 The fruit of the black currant (Ribes nigrum) 

 is, in Kent, called gazel, and was known there, 

 by this name, in the time uf queen Elizabeth. 

 All these bushes grow in cold climates, and are 

 abundant in the snowy woods of the north. 

 The black currant is common in the woods of 

 Russia and Siberia ; not only do the Russians 

 make wine of its berries, but the Siberians 

 make a tea of its strongly scented leaves. The 

 red currant {Ribes rubi-wn) is planted in Essex 

 for making wine. 



But quitting the woodland, and coming away 

 into the open field, the eye is greeted by the 

 beautiful field of saintfoin {Hedysarum ono- 

 hrychis) which is now most brilliantly red, and 

 on wnich an unclouded sun throws a dazzling 



