Woodside. 5 



" Violets dim, 



But sweeter than the lids of Juno's eyes 

 Or Cj-therea's breath." 



No wonder this flower, with its delicious perfume, was 

 named odorata, for what can be more odorous than this 

 lovely, modest inhabitant of wayside hedge and mossy 

 woodland bank ? 



But we must go on, now passing a field of young corn, 

 then a hop garden with the young plants still striving to 

 reach the top of the poles, whilst, behind all, the dark woods 

 form a conspicuous background. Here, to our left, is a 

 narrow shaw, where the birds are raising their voices in 

 melodious homage to spring. A level piece of country 

 follows with low hedges, the young corn in the fields on 

 either side forming a lovely carpet of delicate green. To 

 the right, the undulating ground rolls on and on, yonder 

 rise just shutting out Gad's Hill, where the home of Dickens 

 lies 'mid country sounds and sights. 



' Now the woods creep slowly up. Nearer and nearer they 

 approach, until at last they edge the left-hand side of the 

 road along which we are passing. What lovely mossy banks ! 

 How thickly they are covered with primroses and violets ! 

 But, notwithstanding all this profusion of violets, there is 

 no perfume perceptible ; all this wealth of blossom appeals 

 only to the eye, the brilliant carpet has nothing to attract 

 our sense of smell. 



This is not the same species of violet that we were 

 charmed with just now. It is commonly called Viola canina, 

 or the dog violet. But, although it has no scent, the 

 blossom itself is very similar to that of Viola odorata, and 

 there are a great many interesting scientific facts which 



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