CHAPTER OF CRITICISM. 
305 
With regard to Ranunculus ficaria^ the same writer, in his Rustic Calendar,” 
says, under April 3, that ‘‘ Pilewort now bespangles every shady bank and 
sloping grove with its golden stars, which remain till May!' He also says that 
Caltka palustris is in full flower in the middle of April. If, therefore, these 
plants did not flower with Mr. Morris till the 1st of May, he himself proves 
the backwardness that he denies. 
May 10.—No Pear-trees yet in flower in the orchards, though, according to 
Forster’s “ Rustic Calendar,” they generally commence flowering on April 13. 
May 13.—Alder not in leaf except very partially; Ash, no signs of opening- 
foliage apparent; Beech, the leaves only fully expanded to-day; Birch, young 
leaves just expanded ; Elm, leaves expanding, but scarcely open; general aspect 
denuded; Hawthorn,—the hedges are not yet entirely green, and no sign of 
blossom any where : yet who does not remember gathering May on May-day ? 
“ In early warm springs,” says Forster, “ it flowers on the 1st or 2nd of May 
Hazel, not in leaf, except here and there; Horse Chesnut, foliage fully out, but 
not any flowers ; Lime, only just opening; Maple, buds as yet only apparent; 
Oak, entirely bare; Pear, leaves only partially expanded; Poplar (P. nigra!)., 
red flowers very conspicuous, but leaves not fully expanded; Service (Pyrus 
torminalis J, entirely leafless; Sycamore, in young leaf, though, according to 
Forster, this should be the case on April 10 in ordinary seasons; Willow (Salix 
alba)^ young foliage just apparent. 
May 15. —Pear-trees now first fully in flower, though the third week in April 
is the usual period for this. 
May 25. —Horse Chesnut only just come into flower. 
May 26.—Noticed a Hawthorn-bush in flower for the first time this year., but 
in a ride of thirty miles it was the only one so circumstanced. 
June 11.—The Horse Chesnut, Laburnum, and Lilac, are at length arrayed in 
the beauty that in ordinary seasons they assume a month earlier! 
I will now, by reference to a well-known, common, and universally-diffused 
English flower, attempt to ascertain the number of days the season in question 
was behind ordinary ones, and the plant I shall select is a solstitial species, as 
most fit to refer to. I have noticed for a number of years that the Yellow-flag 
Iris (Iris pseudacorus) always unfolds its brilliant corolla on May the 31st or 
June the 1st; the latter date is given by Forster in his “Rustic Calendar,” and 
I do not remember a season in which the marsh was not yellow with some of its 
flowers on the 1st of June. This year I observed no flower open till June 19, 
so that there can be no doubt that vegetation received a general retardation of at 
least eighteen days. I shall only observe further, that Rosa spinosissima^ which 
usually flowers in April, did not expand till the 11th of June ; and that not a 
No. 13, Vol. IL 3 c 
