NATURE NEAR LONDON 



fore the Herbaceous Ground seems to me a place 

 that should on no account be passed by. And 

 the next place is the Wilderness that is, the 

 Forest. 



On the way thither an old-fashioned yew hedge 

 may be seen round about a vast glasshouse. Out- 

 side, on the sward, there are fewer wild flowers 

 growing wild than might perhaps be expected, 

 owing in some degree, no doubt, to the frequent 

 mowing, except under the trees, where again the 

 constant shadow does not suit all. By the ponds, 

 in the midst of trees, and near the river, there is a 

 little grass, however, left to itself, in which in June 

 there were some bird's-foot lotus, veronica, hawk- 

 weeds, ox-eye daisy, knapweed, and buttercups. 

 Standing by these ponds, I heard a cuckoo call, 

 and saw a rook sail over them ; there was no other 

 sound but that of the birds and the merry laugh of 

 children rolling down the slopes. 



The midsummer hum was audible above ; the 

 honeydew glistened on the leaves of the limes. 

 There is a sense of repose in the mere aspect of 

 large trees in groups and masses of quiet foliage. 

 Their breadth of form steadies the roving eye ; the 

 rounded slopes, the wide sweeping outline of these 

 hills of green boughs, induce an inclination, like 

 them, to rest. To recline upon the grass and with 

 half-closed eyes gaze upon them is enough. 



Z26 



