Springtime and Other Essays. Sir Francis Darwin
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Sir Francis Darwin
Springtime and Other Essays
Published by Good Press, 2019
EAN 4064066238070
Table of Contents
THE TRADITIONAL NAMES OF ENGLISH PLANTS
SIR JOSEPH DALTON HOOKER [115a]
A PROCESSION OF FLOWERS [231a]
ILLUSTRATIONS
| To face page | |
| Psaltery and Dulcimer (By kind permission of Messrs Cornish) | 72 |
| Mandore, Pandurina, Lute, Theorboe, Archlute, and Guitar | 76 |
| The Crwth | 79 |
| The Tromba Marina | 81 |
| Viola d’Amore, Cither Viol, and Hurdy-gurdy or Organistrum | 82 |
| Recorders | 84 |
| Pibcorn or Horn-pipe | 89 |
| Cornetts, Serpent, Bass Horn, Ophicleide, and Keyed Bugle | 91 |
The above illustrations are all taken from “Old English Instruments of Music,” by the kind permission of Canon Galpin.
TO
F. C. C.
SPRINGTIME [1]
“Why, then comes in the sweet o’ the year.”
—Autolycus’ Song.
Governesses used to tell us that the seasons of the year each consist of three months, and of these March, April, and May make the springtime. I should like to break the symmetry, and give February to spring, which would then include February, March, April, and May. It has been said that winter is but autumn “shyly shaking hands with spring.” We will, accordingly, make winter a short link of two months—an autumnal and a vernal hand—December and January. It is a little sad for autumn to have to make room for chill November alongside of the happier months of September and October. But autumn is a season of decadence and cannot justly complain.
The autumnal flowers, which may be allowed to figure as a prelude to spring, are few in number. My favourite is lady’s tresses (Spiranthes), so called from the spiral twist in its inflorescence, which suggests braided hair. Gentiana amarella I should like to include, but its flowering-time is from 12th August to 8th September, and summer has the stronger claim on it. Other autumnal flowers are laurustinus and ivy. If we go by the mean date nothing flowers in October or November, and in December only the Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) is recorded by Blomefield.
But the autumn months have a glory of their own which may vie with the brightest hues of flowers. This great and beautiful panorama begins with the yellowing of the lime-leaves, which may occur as early as 17th August, but on the average is seen on 14th September. It is followed towards the end of September by a brown tint, showing itself in the leaves of the horse-chestnut. It is appropriate that these two species, which are not indigenous, [2] should be the first to fade into glory. But I must not insist on the point, for we see wych-elm leaves fall 24th September, while the date for the common elm is 28th October; and the elm is a foreigner compared to the wych-elm, and retains a mark of