154 



The Story of a Prebendal Stall at Sarum. 



plants flowered later than usual, though throughout the month 

 vegetation was but very little in advance of its proper state. 



One^ of the questions which I am anxious to investigate is the 

 connection (if any) between plants, more especially such as may be 

 of assistance to agriculturists. Certain operations are performed 

 when certain occurrences happen ; thus it has been said " When 

 mulberries begin to turn red the corn is fit to cut." At present I 

 have not been able to confirm this, or to trace any connection be- 

 tween the two. But another saying is decidedly correct : "When 

 the Timothy grass \_Phleum pratense] comes out, the hay is fit to 

 cut." The explanation of this is, that this grass is the last of the 

 common grasses to come into flower, and consequently when it 

 flowers, all the other grasses are in their prime. I have noted for 

 some years how far this is correct, and though the weather has not 

 always been favourable for haymaking, when it appears, yet no 

 better time could have been selected. The dates for this plant in 

 the three years under consideration were June 19th, June 18th, and 

 June 15th, respectively. 



The rainfall was at no time excessive, though from the middle of 

 April (with the exception of a fortnight in May) the weekly amount 

 was in excess of its proper average. 



t jitorg d a f)«fottkl JStall at jJsntm/ 



By the Eev. W. H. Eich Jones, M.A., F.S.A., 



Canon of Sarum and Vicar of Bradford-on-Avon. 



^HERE are some, it may be, who, when they read the subject 

 of this paper — the " Story of a Salisbury Prebend " — may 

 be inclined to ask — " And what is a Prebend ? " And so, I will, on 

 opening my case, as the lawyers say, first of all explain the meaning 

 of the term. 



1 This paper was read some time since before the Members of the Church 

 Institute, at Trowbridge. It is printed in the belief that it will be of interest, 

 at all events, to a good number of our readers. [Ed.] 



