92 VIGNETTES FROM NATURE. 



shorter and stiffer branches of the over-blown 

 hawthorns. Guelder roses are by no means 

 rare flowers, yet I always like to pick a piece 

 or two, because of the curious peculiarity 

 which causes them to be cultivated so much 

 in our shrubberies. Not that this real wood- 

 land bush-flower has any close resemblance 

 to the round balls of distorted blossoms that 

 our gardeners and florists have been at so 

 much pains to produce for the delectation of 

 tasteless patrons. In this its native state the 

 guelder rose has a bunch of small white, or 

 rather cream-coloured flowers, for the most 

 part a good deal like those of the elder ; and, 

 indeed, the very name is said to be a mere 

 philological blunder for elder-rose, and to 

 have no real connection with Guelderland in 

 any way. Still more closely do the little 

 cream-coloured flowers resemble the blossoms 

 of the wayfaring- tree, a member of the same 

 genus, whose mealy leaves and little blue-black 

 berries are familiar objects towards the close 

 of autumn in every tangled overgrown hedge- 



