1858.] THE CLENT HILLS. 395 



Dove's-foot Crane's-bill {Geranium molle), the Dissected-leaved 

 Crane's-bill (G. dissectum and G. pusillum), were almost the only 

 representatives of the Order met with in this district. 



But we met with one interesting plant of this family, viz. 

 Erodium maritimum, the maritime or seacoast Stork's-bill. 

 This plant, which, like several species, is restricted to maritime 

 localities, was noticed in this inland county not less than sixty 

 miles from the estuary of the Severn, and more than this dis- 

 tance from any seacoast. When this fact was stated in the 

 hearing of certain natives, and when it was explained in con- 

 nection with the saline springs of Worcestershire, the question 

 was asked if it would be a prudent speculation to dig in hopes 

 of finding a salt spring on the spot where the Sea Stork's-bill 

 was seen growing. We enforced om* view by stating that the 

 salt springs of Droitwich, the richest in England, were distant 

 only about ten miles from the Clatterbatch, where this plant 

 grew, but of course declined to become sponsor to the opinion 

 that a salt spring existed between the church and hills of Clent 

 in the centre of Clatterbatch. Yet it is not improbable that 

 such a spring might be discovered at Clent if a well of suffi- 

 cient depth were dug. It would be hazardous to say how deep 

 this digging should be. 



The most considerable and profitable vegetation of the Clent 

 Hills is doubtless the grass with which they are covered. Their 

 turf is perhaps the finest that was ever seen. The turf ou 

 our South and North Downs approach it, but on these latter 

 sheep-pastures there grow many plants or herbs which ai'e not 

 grass. On the hills of Clent the turf is almost entirely com- 

 posed of a very few grasses, mixed with some Wild Thyme, and 

 a few aromatic herbs, where the ants have raised slight eleva- 

 tions on the surface. 



The common grass here is the Festuca ovina, the Sheep's 

 Fescue grass, the finest possible grass for a lawn. Of this we 

 had ample proof, for the lawn of the cottage where we were 

 domiciled for the period of our sojourn here, was covered with 

 turf from these hills, and though it had been neglected (unmown) 

 for two months, the grass was indeed rank, but not coarse. 



This is one of the best pasture grasses for dry upland pastures. 

 It has many succulent narrow root-leaves with a very small bent, 

 which never is suffered to be developed when the pasture is kept 



