FIELD MEETINGS FOR 1917 229 



survive where there is no cultivation and only a small popula- 

 tion. Among them are Pyrola minor ctud P. media., Trientalis 

 enropaea (in seed), the oak fern, twayblade, butterfly orchis, 

 frog-orchis, spotted orchis, melancholy thistle. 



The grasses were mostly in flower and very beautiful : of 

 these the wavy-hair-grass densely covered many patches and 

 was very conspicuous. 



Close to the Sneap, we enjoyed the friendly hospitality of 

 the Crooked Oak farm, a name that recalls the time when an 

 oak tree with a crook in its stem or branches had a special 

 value to form the rib or the knee in the keel of one of our 

 " wooden walls." This Jacobean house, though not large, 

 has been in its day the residence of persons of importance. 

 Its finely moulded doorway in the style of that period is dated 

 1684, and a somewhat similar stone chimney-piece, rather big 

 for its place in the parlour, is dated 17 17. In both stories 

 there are stone-muUioned windows. Outside there were 

 several bee-skeps, whose inhabitants were as busy as the 

 proverb describes. All round, the hay harvest was progressing 

 rapidly under the unusually good conditions : the quality was 

 perfect, if the quantity was on the light side. Some was 

 already in pike, other just being cut. 



Among the many botanical attractions on the Sneap itself, 

 there was a record crop of wild strawberries. Bilberries, too, 

 were ripe. Wild roses were at their best ; the bushes had 

 grown luxuriantly and every spray was covered with blossoms, 

 which varied in colour from almost white to bright pink on 

 different plants. Honeysuckle was also fine, and the cross- 

 leaved heather. The blue festoons of the tufted vetch were 

 abundant in several places. 



In and near the marshy spots were found several species of 

 Carex : pa7iicea, pallescens, sylvatica, palnsfris, lepori/ia, 

 vesicaria, remoia, flava ; also yiinais artictilatus, bufo?iius, 

 effiisus. In other localities were observed wood club-rush 

 {Scifpus sylvaticus), great spearwort, meadow-sweet, adder's- 

 tongue, centaury, devil's-bit-scabious. and the dark mullein 



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