LEAVES OF BRAMBLE. 107 



blowing rose. Notices of such incidents may per- 

 haps be considered as too trifling to record ; but 

 the naturalist, from the habit of observing, sees 

 many things not obvious to all persons : his -province 

 is to investigate all the operations of nature, and if 

 he record them truly, he has done his duty ; prolix 

 and dull as his remarks will be to some, yet to an- 

 other they may afford information, or tend to eluci- 

 date a conjecture. The bramble is a sadly repro- 

 bated plant, and I cannot say much in its favour as 

 an independent individual, nor would I introduce 

 it, to incommode by its society a thriving mound 

 of white-thorn or of crab : but it generally intro- 

 duces itself, and will flourish greatly, where other 

 and better fences languish, and then, by intertwining 

 its long, flexile runners with the weakly products of 

 the hedge-row, will compose a guard, where without 

 it we could with difficulty have raised one. It will 

 intrude, however, into many places where it is not 

 required, originating probably from the rejectments 

 of birds, and become a very unwelcome and tena- 

 cious inhabitant. Its long tendrils are much used 

 by us as binders for thatching, being pegged down 

 to prevent the straw coverings of ricks and such 

 things being carried away by the winds, and we are 

 satisfied with its performances. By the assistance 

 of the bramble also, the new placed turf is secured 

 on the graves of our poorer neighbours, until it 

 unites and forms a uniform, sod ; and during this 



