
BOTANY OF WYRE FOREST. 283 
far-famed as an antidote and anti-charm against witchcraft, but 
when this cannot be readily obtained, Ulmus montana is used as 
a substitute, which undoubtedly answers quite as well. Here is 
also Prunus spinosa, Rhamnus cathartica, Huonymus europeus, 
Pyrus Malus. Here is the true native Crab, its leaves small, 
glabrous, as well as the shoots, and regular, small, round, green 
fruit, very different to that which is called the Crab-apple, the 
effect of culture; a hybrid. 
Those hedges contain all the denizens of the ancient forest : 
Hazel, Hawthorn, Birch, Ash, Yew, Holly, Lesser Maple, Alder, 
Water Elder, Sallow; also the Oaks and Tilias, and all the con- 
tiguous forest-stuff. To finish the whole, the feathered tribes add 
their little assistance by sowing the seeds of the Rubi and Rosz 
and Honeysuckle, to adorn it with their floral wreaths. 
Quercus Robur and Quercus intermedia are two most distinct 
species, as proved by their stratal adaptations. It has caused me 
much wandering to establish their specific distinction. The strata 
which Q. intermedia almost exclusively occupies is of the carbo- 
niferous series,—a detritus poured into some lake or estuary 
which filled a long deep valley between the old and new red sand- 
stone. This deposit has become crystallized into a kind of sili- 
ceous rock, no doubt in nature’s chemical laboratory, the ocean, 
where great mysteries are slowly but effectually accomplished. 
This is a barren stratum, much of it not cultivable to advantage ; 
but Q. intermedia flourisheth upon it. Its original area was more 
than a hundred square miles, and the whole of it was originally 
densely wooded with this Oak, nearly to the exclusion of Q. Robur, 
which occupied the surrounding strata, completely isolating Q. 
intermedia. The portion now densely wooded with it is about 
thirty square miles at this time; and where this Oak is now flou- 
rishing on the earth’s surface the petrified remains of its con- 
geners lie entombed beneath, most interesting memorials of the 
past. Those remains are identical with the rocks in which they 
are imbedded. How the inquiring mind may wonder and contem- 
plate, yet cannot wander far into the mysterious past ! 
Q. intermedia may not to an unaccustomed eye be distinguished 
from Q. Robur, but the difference is great both in habit and 
structure: the fruit of the latter is upon long peduncles; leaves 
glabrous on both sides, more cuneate than ovate; petioles short, 
auriculed at their base ; they also are of a darker green, retain their 
