CHAPTER XIX 



Wild flowers Varieties of Viviparous grasses Geology Rock plants 

 The lawn-keeper's best friend White flowers Toothache Cuckoo spit. 



ALL over these hills, the Wood Anemone flourishes 

 abundantly wherever a little soil mixes with the peat, or 

 where the vegetation has not been too closely cropped by the 

 all-pervading sheep. Where ancient alders clothe some 

 damp and rotten bank, it is of course in its element ; but it 

 is equally abundant, if not so luxuriant, in many places far 

 above the present limits of tree growth, suggesting a 

 possible decline in forest conditions, and a survival of 

 forest flowers long after the protecting boughs have dis- 

 appeared. Be that as it may, however, the remains of 

 fallen timber will generally be found, if looked for, amongst 

 the soil, or peat, where the anemone grows, and it is in 

 situations in which it is most starved in that respect that it 

 seems to develop the greatest tendency to produce coloured 

 blooms. Hereabouts, pink varieties are much more 

 frequent than in most places, many of them being quite rich 

 in colour, and attracting the eye while yet quite a long way 

 off. I found to-day one large patch, of several yards in 

 diameter, covered with flowers ranging from pink up to a 

 pretty full rosy tint, very handsome and distinct, and well 

 worthy of removal to the garden, could we only be sure of 

 the colours remaining permanent. Blooms slightly tinged 

 with pink, or violet, are, of course, not uncommon, but 

 they seldom persist if the plant be moved. It is curious 

 that the Wood Anemone should differ so much in this 

 respect from its constant companion, and rival in "beauty, 

 the Wood Sorrel. The latter, also, is sometimes found 

 wild with flowers of a more or less deep pink, but may 



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