BRITTEN : BUCKINGHAMSHIRE PLANTS. 17 



tilougli the plant was found last year botli in Dane Garden Wood and in 

 Fennel's Wood, near Loudwater, I myself did not observe it. When I made 

 enquiries regarding the trees in cottage-gardens, the answer usually was that 

 " the children had brought them out of the woods " : men working in the 

 woods had frequently seen it, and had usually taken it vfhen seen : and every 

 one was most obliging in information about the plant, though no one was 

 able to show it me — one woman, in particular, in her anxiety to please, 

 stated that " she had seen it, 0 yes ! she had seen it : it had red berries, and 

 grew about so high," the " so high " being at least seven feet ! The very 

 general occurrence of D. Mezereum in this neighbourhood, over an area of 

 at least twelve miles, and probably much more, seems to me to militate most 

 strongly against the suspicion that it was originally introduced. It may be 

 suggested that the trees in the woods are sown by the birds from the berries 

 of garden specimens ; but I am told that the contrary is really the case : one 

 person, who has several trees in her garden, assures me that none of them 

 were planted, but she believes " that the birds brought over the seeds from 

 the woods." This is a new way of putting the subject v^hich deserves con- 

 sideration. About a fortnight ago, I found several specimens in a shrubbery 

 at Hughenden, where they had possibly been planted : but yesterday, while 

 roaming over Dane Garden Wood, observing Dentaria hiilbifera coming up 

 in great profusion, and showing well for flov/er, I suddenly came upon two 

 beautiful shrubs of D. Mezereum^ in full flower, and about two feet in height. 

 I felt myself well rewarded for my exertions : and certainly walked home in 

 a state of great satisfaction. In the Park I saw very fine bushes of D. 

 Laureola in full blossom, emitting a delicious scent ; here it was probably 

 planted, though it occurs wild in nearly all the surrounding woods. Vinca 

 minor was also abundant, though perhaps originally introduced : this, too, is 

 native in the neighbourhood. By the side of the river Wick, at the back 

 part of the Park, Dentaria hulhifera was very abundant, with Rihes GrossiL- 

 laria, not yet in blossom: and here my discoveries for this occasion termi- 

 nated. Any future ones which I may make shall be duly recorded in the 

 :N'aturalist." 



High Wycombe,. 



April 13, 1865, 



