149 
THE COMMON BRAMBLE, OR BLACKBERRY. 
RUBUS FRUTICOSUS. 
“ In shady lanes the children stray 
Looking for blackberries through the day, 
Those berries of such old renown ! ” 
In a work that may perhaps lay claim to something of 
an ornamental character, it may be matter of wonder 
that this commonest of all common plants should be 
admitted among the chosen specimens; but, as in making 
the selection, I have had throughout an eye to the moral 
of flowers, this despised and maltreated shrub seems by 
no means unworthy of the station it occupies. Some¬ 
thing, too, of early reminiscence may predispose one in its 
favour. Who does not remember the time when <£ on a 
sunshine holy day ” a blackberry gathering was the highest 
treat, and when its insipid fruit was eaten with a relish 
far beyond that which the rarest hot-house novelty can 
afford in riper years ? Who does not remember, also, 
the shrinking awe with which he passsed the tempting 
l 3 
