72 ttlE I'ROBLEM OP LYNCHfiTS. 



" of afene on caldan pyllan ... on pyr^ hlinc," from 

 the Avon to the cold spring ... to the ploughed 

 lynchet. 



9. Plantations occur under the names " wyrtruma " and 

 " wyrtwala," the latter being the more protected. The smaller 

 enclosures were "hamas," such as '' mint-hammas, flex-hammas, 

 and pceter-hammas " (Berks, a.d. 956). 



The "elebeam " mentioned in the same charter and elsewhere 

 is alleged to have been the olive. This is most unlikely. 

 " Eletreop," with that meaning, occurs in the Vespasian Psalter, 

 and the term may have been conferred on some English plant 

 for a fancied resemblance. 



10. Was the vine cultivated? In the year 956 a vineyard, 

 " quandam vinee particulam cum herentibus sibi duobus 

 mansiunculis," at Mere, in Somerset, was assigned by King 

 Eadwith to Glastonbury Abbey in a Latin charter. But 

 nowhere in these Anglo-Saxon documents is there any 

 mention of vineyards or of wine. There are several refer- 

 ences to a "pines treop" in Berks and one of a "pines 

 hlinc," but also one of a " pines brycg." It is clear that the 

 tree and the lynchet and the bridge belonged to a man called 

 Vine or Vines, a cognomen still to be found in that locality ; 

 and the occurrence of " /Ethelmes hlinc" and "Ecgunes treop," 

 also in Berks, is confirmatory. 



11. Lastly, there is evidence that water was conveyed along 

 lynchets, but this subject can be dealt with more con- 

 veniently when aqueductal terraces come to be considered in 

 Section 26. 



12. We can now turn with advantage to what has been 

 accomplished by the spade during the past summer ; and the 

 thanks of this club are especially due to Mr. Middleton, of 

 Bradford Peverell, Mr. Colfox, of Bridport, Mr. Compton, of 

 Minstead, and his tenant, IMr. Lcgge, of INIelplash Court, for 

 permission given to excavate on their land ; and to the two 

 former, as well as to Mr. Solly and IMr. Wilkinson, for active and 

 most willing assistance. 



