Hampshire days, (The collected works of W. H. Hudson) [Hardcover]

W. H Hudson (Author)

Book Description

Series: The collected works of W. H. Hudson | Publication Date: 1923

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1903. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIV Yellow flowers--Family likeness in flavours and scents--Mimulus luteus--Flowers in church decoration--Effect of association--Mimulus luteus as a British plant--A rule as to naturalised plants wanted--A visit to Swarraton--Changes since Gilbert White's day--"Wild musk"--Bird life on the downs--Turtledove nestlings--Blue skin in doves--A boy naturalist--Birds at the cottage--The wren's sun-bath--Wild fruits ripen--An old chalk pit--Birds and elderberries--Past and present times compared--Calm days--Migration of swallows--Conclusion. Thb oak in the field and a flowering plant by the water were the two best things plant life contained for me during those beautiful late summer days by the Itchen. About the waterside flower I must write at some length. Of our wild flowers the yellow in colour, as a rule, attract me least; not because the colour is not beautiful to me, but probably on account of the numerous ungraceful, weedy-looking plants of unpleasant scent which in late summer produce yellow flowers--tansy, fleabane, ragwort, sow-thistle, and some of other orders, the worst of the lot being the pepper saxifrage, an ungainly parsley in appearance, with evil-smelling flowers. You know them by their odours. If I were to smell at a number of strong-scented flowers unknown to me in a dark room, or blindfolded, I should be able to pick out the yellow ones. They would have the yellow smell. The yellow smell has an analogue in the purple taste. It may be fancy, but it strikes me that there is a certain family resemblance in the flavours of most purple fruits, or their skins--the purple fruit-flavour which is so strong in damson, sloe, black currant, blackberry, mulberry, whortleberry, and elderberry. All the species I have named were common in the valley, and t...

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: E.P. Dutton & Co; 1st US edition (1923)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00085O80K
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,971,860 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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