A NORTHERN VALLEY 211 



brings thoughts of workers in rare green young corn is hid by discordant 

 metals and setters of small jewels, yellow sprays of charlock : in hay 

 with its thin clear blades and clearer meadows the thickly set moon daisies 

 stars placed so precisely. seem brown through the haze of seed- 

 In another direction this moorland ing grass plumes. 



turns to sheltered common as the farm- The hedges have many wild rose 

 lands are approached. Here, when shoots and honeysuckle that is sure 

 May is well begun, a profusion of red- to bloom a second time, sparely and 

 dish purple spotted orchis, sheltering lingeringly, in September : the field- 

 green crisp grasshoppers, diverts the hedges are often heightened by ancient 

 more superficial searcher for scarcities damson trees, clouded with fluttering 

 from the presence of the spare and whiteness in May, bending heavily at 

 livid fly orchis. the Summer's end. There are elder 

 At one point a hill-side of limestone trees, too, between field and lane ; 

 scree dips into the valley, bearing only their late June blossom has a rank 

 dandelions more delicate than chry- scent, as of cows newly come from 

 santhemums in the fineness and pure river-pools and munching new hay spilt 

 colour of their petals, and tall thistles from carts in twilight, 

 white with fulsome tufts of down in There is a place where one ancient 

 August. elder tree rises from a cluster of tiny- 

 Down the valley the roads from flowered borage and burr-docks with 

 farm to farm and village are bordered purple stems : hens stand among its 

 in June with lavender scabious and boughs when in October the bunched 

 dusky cream meadow-sweet ; at some berries drop ripely at a touch. Across 

 cottage corner a high bursting pod of the road a wooded steep cleft opens 

 rhubarb blossom will seem exotic and in a hill-side : at its entrance is a 

 exuberant among the umbels of jointed yard surrounded by deserted buildings, 

 kexes, an onion flower will uplift in The hard soil is dappled with tufts of 

 August its shapely white globe of blue-flowering viper's bugloss ; moister 

 florets on a green rod, or a coarse earth under trees is half hidden by 

 scent in April will discover virile shoots curling glossy leaves of green arum ; 

 of spreading crown imperial once flung Our Lady's bedstraw spreads its tan- 

 from the cottage garden. g l es of little flowerlets among dull, 

 In the fields of dilatory farmers rough leaves of wild sage ; and over 



