386 ON THE BOTANY OF . [April, 



siderable elevation, and in clear weather commands an extensive 

 view. Birmingham is said to be the highest or most elevated 

 town in England. Dudley is scarcely, if at all, inferior. The 

 distance from this town to Hales Owen is about five miles, and 

 the road passes close to the Leasowes, one of the most cele- 

 brated seats in England. Erom this latter town the road to 

 Clent is easily found. The two Holly-trees on the summit of 

 Walton (Waldon) Hills are the landmark, and seen for miles on 

 all sides. The way passes through Ufl'more Eorest, and close by 

 St. Kenelm's church, and either through the pass, Clatterbatch^ 

 or along the ridge of the Walton Hills. The distance is about 

 four miles from Hales Owen, or about nine miles from Dudley. 

 From Birmingham the walk or ride is eleven miles, and the 

 traveller should leave the road at the Bromsgrove Lickey, and 

 strike across the country to the right for Clent, keeping the two 

 Hollies above mentioned a little on his right-hand. The distance 

 from the Bromsgrove Lickey is about four miles, and the lanes 

 and country here are very beautiful. 



The Clent, with the Lickey and other hills, enclose a portion 

 of the great basin of the Severn. They are about due north of 

 the Cotswold, and at least fifty miles distant from the latter. 

 They are also north of the Malvern Hills and a point or two 

 east, or, as a seaman would say, north-and-by-east, or between 

 that and north-north-east, and they are distant from the latter, 

 the Malverns, above thirty miles. They are north-east of the 

 Aberley and almost east of the Clee Hills, and are distant from 

 these about twenty and fifteen miles respectively. In clear wea- 

 ther ail these hills or series of hills are visible from any part 

 of the Clent Hills. At sunrise the white houses of Malvern 

 at the base of the hill are distinctly visible when the atmo- 

 sphere is clear, and especially when the sun is shining on that 

 lovely spot. 



As it is intended to write a brief account of the geological 

 formation of these hills and their adjacent valleys and plains, as 

 well as of their native productions, we will commence systema- 

 tically, that is, begin at the beginning. As there is a necessary 

 relation between the soil and the plants which the soil produces, 

 so there is a necessary relation between the soil and the subjacent 

 (underlying) rocks. These constitute everywhere the substratum 

 or the bases of the earth on which both plants and animals grow 



