^^62 Yorkshire Xa/ urn lists tit Boives. 



and mag-nificent cloud effects. Occasionally a huge rain cloud 

 obscured the sun for a few minutes, sprinkling- upon the land- 

 scape and upon us a few drops as a parting- blessing- before 

 being absorbed into the surrounding- atmosphere. Stately piles 

 of cumulus, like snow-capp'd mountains, rang-ed in irregular 

 order the circle of the horizon, no words can describe the 

 subtlety of their colouring, and only the pencil of a Turner 

 could faintly depict them. Under these conditions life is ideal, 

 and we feel sorry that there are not more lovers of nature and 

 fewer jerrv-builders. 



About two miles from Bowes is ' Hulands ' Quarry (what is 

 the etymology?), on the north side of the road ; here we turned 

 in, and moss gathering, snail and slug hunting, and flowering 

 plant observations were for some time most enthusiastically 

 carried on, then, after mental requirements were partly satisfied, 

 the grosser part of our nature called for attention. After lunch 

 the photographer of the party secured portraits of the worthies 

 mentioned. Wild Thyme bloomed in glorious profusion, much 

 to the delight of the bees and ourselves. Autumnal Gentian or 

 Felwort was abundunt, but the most forward plants had not yet 

 unfolded their five-toothed corollas. 



On the road-sides, in damp places. Marsh Ragwort flaunted 

 its golden stars ; they were large enough to fill with envy the 

 breast of the horticulturist. Great Hedge Bedstraw climbed the 

 walls and covered the bushes with its snowy, honey-scented 

 blossoms for miles along the road ; its cousin. Yellow Bedstraw 

 or Cheese-Rennet, abounded on the dry banks and hung care- 

 lessly from many a crevice in the dry limestone rock. This 

 plant was formerly used in the manufacture of cheese, but now 

 the cheesemaker procures a substitute from the chemist. In the 

 Bowes district a large quantity of cheese is made ; and every- 

 where this plant is abundant, but few if any of the people know 

 its properties. The railway has ousted the stage coach, and 

 the chemist has ousted the herbalist. 



A delightful feature of this road is the great number of 

 small quarries that line its sides. These form a portion of the 

 roadside, into which you can walk from the grass verge by 

 a gentle slope ; presumably they were opened for the purpose 

 of getting stone with which to repair the road close by. Many 

 years must have elapsed since they were worked, for Nature has 

 claimed them, and has in her wantonness and waywardness 

 made of them ideal rock-gardens, which appeal far more to the 

 student of Nature than any man-made collection of plants, 



Naturalist, 



