JUNCTJS. 199 



22. J. coNGLOMERATus. Wet pastures, mcadows, and by ditches. 



23. J. GLATJCUS. Wet pastures, and damp places on road-sides. 

 The preceding three species are called aaa^Sl^eS, ^aii)tvS, and 



sometimes HLpvaii^ni. With their stems, carefully pulled, children 

 make grenadier caps, swords, whips, and dovecots. 



" Down in yon hollow, which the banks enfold. 

 We pluck'd the marsh-flowers by the fountain cold ; 

 Or pull'd the Rushes from their watery bed. 

 To plait the belt, and helmet for our head." 



G. Hendebson. Scenes of Boyhood, p. 12. 



Beehives are thatched with rushes ; and they are employed in the 

 covering of corn. The pith was wont to be a wick for the " cruizy" 

 or lainp of the spectacled old dame. The cruizy now-a-days, how- 

 ever, is an utensil rarely seen. In bogs J. effusus is a frequent 

 accompaniment of a well-head or " babanqua " ; and in mists and 

 in storms, shepherds on our wide moors guide themselves by such 

 land-marks. One may step safely over a bog by using the rush bush 

 for his footing. " Step on a Rasher bush, and it will no deceive 



ye." 



" His good peoples lawfuU recreations" on Sundays having gone 

 into disuse, James, in 1618, issued a declaration to revive and en- 

 courage the same. And in future women were to have " leave to 

 carry rushes to the church for decorating of it according to their old 

 custom." 



" Bring from the marish Rushes to o'erspread 

 The ground, whereon to church the lovers tread." — Browne. 



There are nice papers on "Rush-Bearing" in Hone's Every Day 

 Book, iii. pt. ii. p. 279; Chambers' Edinburgh Journal, Sat. Oct. 19, 

 1844 ; and Notes and Queries, ii. p. 197*. 



24. J. ACUTiFLORUS. ^ipvat or ^prot. Watery places, com- 

 mon. The provincial name is perhaps derived from the German 

 sprode brittle. The rush is much valued as a food for cattle, and 

 forms the chief part of " Bog hay " employed for litter and winter 

 food. For the assurance of those who have to wend their way over 

 moors and fens and moss, you are told that there is not much danger 

 of lairing where Sprats grow abundantly. 



25. J. LAMPOCARPUS. Common on all our moors, grovring on 

 comparatively dry and solid ground. 



26. J. ULiGiNOSXJS— J. supinus. Turfy bogs, and often in the 

 cuts made to drain them, common. Generally viviparous. 



27. J. saxjARRosus. J3mt : 3^o£it^98tnt : Stoot33ent. — Com- 

 mon on all our moors. " Totus rigens foliis patentibus ; " and hence 

 the name of Rose and Stool prefixed to distinguish this from other 

 Bents. In the Lammermuirs there is a place called Benty Dodd, 

 perhaps from the abundance of this plant on the moors in the 



* " Junci recentes per cubiculum sparsi temperant aerem et frigidos 

 vapores ad caput submittunt, quibus somnolentos efficiunt." Sibbald. Scot. 

 lUust. ii. p. 32. 



