Everyday Objects; Or, Picturesque Aspects of Natural History.

by W. H. Davenport Adams

Are realms of upland, prodigal in oil,

And hoary to the wind."

Oh! a sight to thank God for, and rejoice in, is the field all aglow with the splendour of the harvest!

Fig. 70.—"Behind are realms of upland."

Without having recourse to chemical analysis, which is within the reach of a very limited number of persons, clayey soils may be distinguished by the vegetable species that most commonly flourish in them: as—

I. Plants belonging to clayey soils.—The Queen of the Meadows, Spiræa ulmaria (order Rosaceæ). Wild Angelica, Angelica sylvestris. Common Sorrel, Rumex acetosa (order Polygonaceæ), and various kinds of Ranunculaceæ, as Ranunculus lingua, Ranunculus flamma, and Ranunculus sceleratus.

II. Plants belonging to sandy soils.—Horny Lotus, Lotus corniculatus (order Rhamnaceæ). Little Harebell, Campanula rotundifolia (order Campanulaceæ). Eyebright, Euphrasia officinalis (order Scrophulariaceæ). Anthoxanthum odoratum.

III. Plants belonging to argilo-calcareous soils.—Coltsfoot, Tussilago farfara (order Compositæ). Wild Mustard, Sinapis arvensis (order Cruciferæ). Buckwheat, Polygonum aviculare (order Polygonaceæ).

IV. Plants belonging to a sandy and calcareous soil.—Broom, Genista scoparia (order Leguminosæ). Centaury, Centaurea nigra (order Gentianaceæ). Galium verum (order Rubiaceæ). The Jacobea, Seneecio Jacobæa.

V. Plants belonging to alluvial and marshy soils.—Reed, Arundo phragmites, Poa aquatica, Poa fluitans. Rush, Juncus conglomeratus (order Juncaceæ).