WATERSIDE II' E EDS. J79 



ClIArTKR XXX. 

 WATIiRSIDE WEims. 



At the extreme lower end of the farm, where tlic three- 

 cornered croft adjoins Smallcombe Barton, our little 

 brooklet X'enlake broadens out for fifty yards or so into a 

 shallow cattle-jjond, covered on its surface with bri<^du- 

 grcen fronds of floatinfj duckweed, and bordered at the 

 edge by a lush niar^n'n of rank sedi^es and tall black - 

 crested reed-mace. The vei^^etation of this valie>' pool 

 is quite different in type from the sundews and butter- 

 worts of the upland bo^^s, and yet it is almost efjuaJIy 

 wild and beautiful in character after its own si)ccial 

 fashion. Comparisons, indeed, are never more odious 

 than in the matter of natural scenery. The other da\'. 

 when I was wanderini; amon<,^ the tufted cotton-L^^rasses 

 and pretty oran<;e bo^i,^- asphodels of the marsh)- patch 

 on the common, I said in my haste that there was nothiiiL; 

 in Mn^L;iand so native and j^raceful in its beauty as that 

 exquisite flora of the peaty upland ; to-day as I stand 

 by this little pool of Venlake — a mere water-loij^cd 

 corner trodden down apparently b)- the heifers comini; 

 constantly to drink where the bank stands lowest - I 

 feel as though I must go back upon m)^ own words, and 

 give the first place for gracefulness among English plants 

 to the waterside flags and upright cat's-tails. See, here 



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