THE HEDGEROWS OF LEICESTERSHIRE. 
61 
contain very many variations from the pure nwmguna type. The plant 
is raised from seed in the nurseries, and this seed is gathered from the 
hedges, so that wherever the two forms grow near together 
hybridisation is certain to occur. Moreover, there are many other 
species and varieties of Crataegus, some from southern Europe, others 
from North America, grown abundantly in shrubberies and ornamental 
plantations all over England, and the pollen of these also, carried by 
insects, would have its effect in modifying the hedgerow seed. 
Another interesting point about our English hedges is that they are 
harbours of refuge for all vermin—animal and vegetable. Now 
“ vermin ” is a word invented by selfish utilitarians to express their 
hatred of those interesting little creatures who would share with them 
the fruits of the earth. Imagining in their ignorance and ingratitude 
that there is nothing more despicable or noxious than a worm, they use 
as a title of opprobrium the name of that great race to which they 
are especially indebted for their fertile soil. What they call vermin 
and weeds are treasures of beauty to a naturalist; but if it had not 
been for the sanctuary of the hedges very many species during the 
progress of modern agriculture would have been lost to the Flora and 
the Fauna of England. 
Besides the score or two of shrubs and climbing plants which make 
the actual fence, the hedge bottoms swarm with annual and perennial 
herbs, and where, as was nearly always the old custom, the hedge is 
planted on a low bank formed of the soil excavated from a ditch along¬ 
side, the bank and the ditch together afford the most appropriate 
habitats for hundreds of plants, from the lowest Algae upwards. Mosses, 
Fungi, Jungermanniae, Ferns, Grasses, Docks, Nettles, and flowering 
plants in wonderful variety. Sometimes the ancient history of a 
hedge may be deciphered from the plants which it still harbours. 
Two or three years ago the Botanical Section of the Leicester Literary 
and Philosophical Society went in search of the site of Stocking Wood, 
near Mowmacre Hill, which, in the records of the last century, had 
been a famous place for rare and interesting plants, but had been since 
entirely cut down and the site ploughed over. Wandering about the 
fields, the hedges of which were mostly pretty straight, though tall, and 
at least half a century old, they came upon one hedge which had an 
altogether different character. 
It followed the tortuous course of a very small brook, scarcely more 
than a ditch, but too irregular to be anything but a natural excavation, 
and in the bottom of this hedge were growing Wood Sorrel, Wild 
Hyacinths, Wood Anemones, and several rare Mosses, all bearing witness 
.that this had at one time been the boundary of a wood. They knew 
that the object of their search was found. The wood, whether part of 
the primeval forest of Arden or a mediaeval plantation, had been bounded 
by the little natural brook, and in order to prevent cattle from straying 
into it and damaging the timber a hedge had at some time been 
planted along the brookside. Into this hedge many of the wood plants 
had spread, and when the wood was sold and turned into a farm they 
still held their ground under shelter of the thorny Cratasgus. 
