18 HORTICULTURAL TOUR. 



out the winter season, we were told, many of the common 

 people come from Dover, and gather this primary cabbage 

 for use as a pot-herb. Another excellent culinary plant, 

 Parsley, Apium pctroselinum, is either a native denizen of 

 these cliffs, or completely naturalized there : And still other 

 two plants occur, which have occasionally been used in the 

 kitchen, — Alexanders, Smyrnium olusatrum, and Sea-beet, 

 Beta maritima. The first of these was in former times 

 cultivated in gardens, but has for many years fallen into 

 disuse : the flavour is strong ; but if the plant be only 

 slightly bruised, it communicates to the fingers a smell not 

 unlike that of strawberries. We did not observe rock- 

 samphire (Crithmum maritimum) on the cliffs near the 

 Castle, nor even at the precipice which has acquired the 

 name of Shakespeare's Cliff* ; but about half a mile to 

 the south-west, it was pretty common, generally however in 

 inaccessible places. The walk by the beach at the foot of 

 the cliffs, on both sides of the town, offers a treat "to a bo- 

 tanist from the north ; some of the herbaceous plants 

 which are here of most frequent occurrence, being rarities 

 in Scotland. One of the most beautiful of these is the 

 matted thrift, Statice reticulata, which in some places 

 covers the shelving banks. 



On the evening of the 9th we sailed, in the Lord Dun- 

 can packet, Captain Pascoe, for the Continent. It was too 

 late to enable us fully to enjoy, from the sea, the beautiful 

 view of Dover and its cliffs; the whole scene was soon 

 wrapped in obscurity. Enjoying a favourable breeze 

 through tin* night, we found the towers of Dunkirk and 

 Nil 1 1 port withhl sight in the morning. 



• Half «ay down, 



oiy thai ." . ■ 1 1 j < i samphire; AreaAM trade, <Sm:. 



/.car. 



