John Keble's Parishes

ROSE TRIBE

BLACKTHORN (Prunus spinosa).-It is believed that no hurt is so hard of healing as from a blackthorn. Also blackthorn winter is supposed to bring fresh cold in spring, when the bushes almost look as if clothed by hoar-frost.

WILD CHERRY (P. Avium).-The fine, tall, shapely trees put on their bridal show in the woods of Cranbury and Ampfield.

BIRD-CHERRY (P. Padus).-Not very common. There is one in the grounds at Otterbourne House, but it is not certainly wild.

MEADOW-SWEET (Spiræa Ulmaria).-Raising its creamy cymes of blossoms in every ditch where there is a little moisture.

DROPWORT (S. Filipendula).-On the borders of Pitt Down and Crab Wood.

AGRIMONY (Agrimonia Eupatoria).-Long yellow spikes in all dry hedges.

BURNET (Sanguisorba officinalis).-Chalk-pit by Sparrow Grove, also Dane Lane, where the green balls with tiny red blossoms may be found, and sometimes the green and crimson burnet moth.

BARREN STRAWBERRY (Potentilla Fragariastrum).-How often has "mustn't pick the strawberry blossom" been quoted to this delusive little white cinquefoil in early spring, when it peeps out among leaves very like strawberry-leaves in the hedge.

TORMENTIL (P. Tormentilla).-This is now ranged among the cinquefoils, though it has only four petals, owing perhaps to the very dry barren heathy soil it brightens with its stars.

CINQUEFOIL (P. repens).-A smiling pentagon star by the wayside.

SILVER-WEED or GOOSE-GRASS (P. anserina).-Why dedicated to geese, even in Latin, it is hard to say. Silver-weed is more appropriate to the silver-grey leaves that border road-sides, sometimes with golden flowers.

MARSH CINQUEFOIL (Comarum palustre).-A prize in Baddesley bog, unless drains have banished its pure flower.

WOOD STRAWBERRY (Fragaria vesca).-Profuse in Cranbury and on banks of railway at Sparrow Grove.

WILD RASPBERRY (Rubus Idæus).-Cranbury, near the road.

WILD BLACKBERRY (R. fruticosus).-Brambles, of course, everywhere, but it is impossible to pass them without a tribute to their beauty, in flower, in fruit, and, above all, in autumn foliage.

DEWBERRY (R. cæsius).-What is probably dewberry grows by the roadway through Mallibar Copse.

(R. leucostratus).-Roman Road and Cranbury Common.

HERB BENNET (Geum urbanum).-Insignificant yellow flower.

WATER AVENS (G. rivale).-Quaint little ruddy half-expanded blossoms, called by the villagers Granny's Night-caps.

(G. intermedium).-Really intermediate-probably hybrid. Found once in a copse between Boyatt Lane and the Southampton Road.

LADY'S MANTLE (Alchemilla arvensis).-Crabwood.

SWEET-BRIAR (Rosa rubiginosa).-Copse by pond, Cranbury.

DOG-ROSE (R. canina).-With handsomer hips.

WHITE DOG-ROSE (R. arvensis).

HAWTHORN (Cratægus monogyna).-Who does not love when the blossoms cover them like snow-drift? Well are they called May.

MOUNTAIN ASH (Pyrus Aucuparia).-This rowan-tree of Scotland has no weird horrors here, but it is the ornament of the woods, with white cymes, red berries, and feathery leaves.

CRAB-TREE (P. Malus).-Romsey Road, where the pinky blossoms show opposite Cranbury Gate.

WHITEBEAM (P. Aria).-Grey or white leaves shine out in Ampfield Wood.

PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE (Lythrum salicaria).-Ophelia's long purples adorn the water-courses in the Itchen mead.