190 Shvppath Bean. By Br Charles Stuart. 



abundance, and associated with it were Rubus saxatilis, and Circcea 

 lutetiana var. intermedia. Some specimens of the last resembled 

 C. alp ina, but on growing them on my border they kept to the 

 intermediate form. On the same moist face was Crepis paludosa 

 (Marsh Hawksbeard) showing its preference to a moist mountain 

 wood. The pink and white Lychnis grew all over the place with 

 the pink Cranesbill, while Geranium sylvaticum added its blue to 

 form a contrast. The Guelder Rose was there also, with its 

 globular heads of white flower, and Cnicus heterophyllus, (the 

 Melancholy Thistle). Heliantkemum vulyare was also plentiful. 

 Trifolium medium with flowers of rare brightness, grew near the 

 Melica, and as seen here is a very attractive plant. The Lonicera 

 periclymenum (the Honeysuckle) clambering up the trunks of 

 the Birches, or some decaying stump, diffused its fragrance in 

 honied balm. On the more sloping banks on the south side of 

 the dean, the Mountain Fern with its pale green, scented fronds, 

 covers a large surface, forming a half shrubby covering which 

 cannot fail to attract the admiration of every lover of nature. 

 The long narrow fronds of Asp. lonchitidoidcs already mentioned, 

 are fine for cultivation, and well worth a careful search. Pro- 

 ceeding onwards, we arrive at a steep rock}- scaur on the left hand 

 side of the stream, covered with moss. In the moist crevices a 

 profusion of Asplenium trichomanes (Black Spleenwort) is to be 

 seen. The rock is too steep to climb, but plenty is within reach, 

 and I sincerely hope that ruthless collectors will be careful not 

 to exterminate it. It is rooted among the moss, and the circles 

 of its fronds are eveiywhere mixed with the pink Cranesbill, 

 which in a dean like this grows luxuriantly, the flowers being 

 of a splendid pink. Rosa canina and Rosa spinosissima here clothe 

 the banks, crowded with Hoses. The white flowering Stitch- 

 worts were also luxuriant. 



The seclusion and stillness of the dean is remarkable, for if 

 we except the carol of the Lark from the uplands, and an 

 occasional note from the Blackbird, no sound of bird life is to be 

 heard. In the lower part of the dean the gray Sandpiper was 

 flitting about the stones in the stream ; and earlier in the season 

 the "Water-ousel will no doubt breed here. Mosses and Junger- 

 mannite in fine fruit, are all over the mossy banks. Sedum 

 villosum, with its pretty pink flowers, showed through the damp 

 moss. Surrounded by the fragrant Mountain Fern, we lunched 

 by the edge of the burn ; and refreshed after a pleasant walk 



