265 that 



above, there spring single yellow- 

 ish green flowers, 19, 20 

 on short pedicels. j^S^^ 

 The flower does JhB|| . 

 not, strictly, grow 

 out of the leaf, but 

 on a pedicel from fll 

 the middle of the W 

 leaf, and in this § 

 respect is a bota- 574. 

 nical curiosity. The female 

 flowers are succeeded by red 

 berries, 20, large as small cherries, 

 having two large orange-coloured 

 seeds in each. The plant takes 

 its English name from the fact 

 that its prickly branches were 

 once used by butchers to sweep 

 their blocks ; the branches, with 

 the ripe fruit on them, set up- 

 right in the sand, with stalks of 

 peony and iris, form an agreeable 

 winter nosegay for rooms. 



The bilberry or whortleberry, is 

 a deciduous shrub, with bell-like 

 rosy flowers, 2, and berries, 3, re- 

 sembling the black currant in 



675. 



size and colour. Large quanti- 

 ties of these berries are collected 

 for the market, but they then 

 lose the beautiful bloom which is 



''S IT ; 



upon them when growing. They 

 are used for tarts, puddings, and 

 preserves. 



One of the prettiest sights that greet our eye 

 in the districts where it abounds, is that of a 

 party of rustic children " a-bilbcrrying" (for the 

 greater portion of those that come to market 

 are collected by children) ; there they may be 

 seen, knee-deep in the " wires," or clambering 

 over the broken grey rocks to some rich nest of 

 berries, their tanned faces glowing with health, 

 and their picturesque dress (or undress) — with 

 here and there bits of bright red, blue, or white 

 — to the painter's eye contrasting beautifully 

 with the purple, grey, and brown of the moor- 

 land, and forming altogether rich pictorial sub- 

 jects. The berries are also eaten by game, to 

 which the dense foliage affords a secure covert ; 

 and their juice is employed to stain paper and 

 linen of a purple colour Goats and sheep are 

 in some places fed on the plant, but it is rejected 

 by horses and cows.* 



5 4 



676. 



The blea berry or bog whortle- 

 berry, 4, o, grows in a situation 

 similar to the bilberry, but inclines 

 more to moist places. The pink 

 flowers, 6, which are bell-shaped, 

 grow in clusters at the ends of 

 the branches ; the berries, 7, are 

 large and black, abounding with 

 a weak acid juice, which is used 

 in France for colouring wines. 

 There are numerous varieties, 

 including the white-fruited, pale, 

 long-stamened, white-flowered, red- 



* Ool-mau's Woodlands, IiVaths, and Hedges. 



