138 CALLTJNA. ARBUTUS. 



pears to be affected, in its secretion of honey, by the nature of the 

 soil on which it grows. Around Wooler there is a sandstone and a 

 porphyritic soil. The bees on the latter produce considerably greater 

 quantities of honey than those pastured upon the former. Heather 

 honey is of a brown colour and has a peculiar flavour, — which raises 

 it in the estimation of many. 



" The tiny heath-flowers now begin to blow ; 

 The russet moor assumes a richer glow ; 

 The powdery bells, that glance in purple bloom. 

 Fling from their scented cups a sweet perfume ; 

 While from their cells, still moist with morning dew. 

 The wandering wild bee sips the honied glue ; 

 In wider circle wakes the liquid hum. 

 And far remote the mingled murmurs come." — Leyden. 



Those shepherds who have passed their youth amongst the Lammer- 

 muirs have their gaits so affected by traversing the rough heath, 

 that, for the rest of their hves, they are accustomed in walking to 

 lift their feet higher than other people. This practice is called by 

 the lowlanders " heather-lamping." — In a long continuous storm it 

 is customary to drive sheep to some heathery spot, as the snow is 

 usually drifted from the moors, and the heather lies bare, offering a 

 welcome pasturage. 



That the Picts knew the art of distilling an ale' from Heather, some 

 antiquaries consider a myth, and some a fact ; and of the latter some 

 maintain that there exist remains of the breweries in which this ale 

 was made *. The secret died with the people ; and the tradition of 

 how it died so worthily is well told by Mr. Chambers, as it still 

 lingers amidst the Lammermuirs, " the last ground contested bv the 

 Scots and Picts." Picture of Scotland, p. 26 f . 



364. Arbutus uva-ursi = Arctostaphylos uva-ursi. B. On the 

 west side of Dirrington Law, plentiful, Rev. Thos. Brown. June. — The 

 berries are known to the common people in the west of the county by 



And beauty ; but, the chief o'ei- all the rest. 

 Old Scotland's " symbol dear," which he, the Bard 

 Of Coila, hath immortalised, and spared 

 The inspiring emblem waving in the breeze, 

 I love to mark ; nor less the heather flower. 

 Of scent delicious, and inviting stiU 

 The eye to rest upon its beauty, spread 

 For miles athwart the moor, where wild fowl haunt. 

 And where the industrious bee collects her sweets 

 Medicinal, and ministers alike 

 To luxury's claims, and to the comforts which 

 Sometimes descend to cheer the poor man's heart." — Crease. 

 * See Wilson's Archaeology of Scotland, p. 76- 



t " It is also a general belief among the common people throughout 

 Scotland and Ireland that the Danes brewed their strong ale from heather ; 

 a tradition which probably arose from the circumstance that in ancient 

 times the Northmen spiced their ale with herbs ; as, for instance, in Den- 

 mark with Dutch myrtle, or sweet willow (Dan. Porse), which grows in 

 marshy heaths." Worsaae's Danes and Norwegians in England, p. 206. 



