245 



Broom, Sarothamnus scoparius, were, in sheltered places, in as 

 full bloom as Linnaeus himself would have been delighted to wit- 

 ness : the Bird-cherry or Heck-berry, Prunus padus, and the Lilac, 

 Syringa vulgaris, in the hedges and gardens, were charming. 



In the woods and on the slopes were found the usual early 

 flowers common to the district, as the Primrose, the Starwort, 

 Geranium sylvaticiim, Arum maculatwm, Speedwell, Galium verum, 

 Buttercups and Daisies many, Viola sylvatica, scarlet Pimpernel, 

 and at least three species of Cruciferce. The wild Hyacinth was 

 in flower, but the Wood Anemone was almost done. 



The scene, the time of year, and the weather, reminded one of 

 Spencer's beautiful stanza on Spring : — 



"So forth issew'd the seasons of the yeare ; 

 First lusty Spring, all dight in leaves of flowres 

 That freshly budded and new bloosmes did beare, 

 In which a thousand birds had built their bowres, 

 That sweetly sung to call forth paramoures ; 

 And in his hand a iavelin he did beare, 

 And on his head (as fit for warlike stoures) 

 A guilt engraven morion he did weare ; 

 That as some did him love, so others did him feare." 



The weather during the month of May was very changeable, ' 

 at times cold, at times rather warm ; wet and foggy days alter- 

 nated with dry ones, and thunderstorms were frequent all over 

 the kingdom. 



There was a partial plague of grubs, larvte of Tipula oleracea, 

 among the cereals, particularly the oats, at Gosforth, and in vari- 

 ous parts of N^orthumberland, west and north of Newcastle, and 

 the same was complained of also in the south of England. These 

 larva) lie, in winter, in the ground ; they begin to be active in 

 spring and attack the young green sprouts as soon as they ap- 

 pear, feeding on them. Caterpillars, too, troubled fruit trees 

 much in May. 



It was remarked generally in the middle of May that the Oak 

 was much further advanced in foliage than the Ash, so that if the 

 old saw prove true we are to have a flue, or at all events not a 

 wet, summer. The adage runs thus: — 



