SPENCER TURNER AND HIS NURSERY. 45
Pheasant's Eye, Crane's-bill, Celandine, the flower that comes
and departs with the swallow (chelidon), Stork's-bill, Cock's-foot,
Henbane, Goosegrass and Duckweed.
From heraldry are Dandelion (Dens-leonis), Leopard's-bane,
Snapdragon, Bear's-breech (Acanthus), Wolf's-bane, Hart's
tongue, Deer's-hair, Buckshorn and Dolphin-plant (Delphinium).
Homestead favourites are Horseradish, Mare's-tail, Colt's-foot,
Cowwheat, Oxlip, Calf's-snout (Antirrhinum), Ass-food (Ononis),
Goat's-beard, Pignut, Sowbread, Hog's-Fennel, Swine-cress,
Sheep's-bit, Hound's-tongue, Dogwood, Catmint; and from
the woods come Squirrel-tail, Fox-glove, Weasel-snout (Archangel)
and Mouse-ear. Reptiles are represented by Snake's-head,
Adder's tongue and Viper's Bugloss, other creatures by Scorpion-
grass, Wormwood, Snailplant, Frogbit, Toadflax; and the insect-
world by Bee Orchis, Catchfly, Locust-bean, Spiderwort, Louse-
wort and Nit-grass. Pulicaria is alleged by Johns to drive away
fleas by its strong smell, but Alcock fails to find this deadly
odour and says it is the shape of the seeds that got it this name.
SPENCER TURNER AND HIS NURSERY:
ANOTHER FORGOTTEN GARDENER-BOTANIST.
By C. HALL CROUCH, F.S.G.
[Read 26th October, 1940.]
A TRAVELLER from London to Leytonstone one hundred
and fifty years ago would pass on his left hand, soon
after he had turned the corner where now is Maryland Point
station, several nurseries, all on the same side of the way, the
oldest and most famous of them being the third, situated at
Holloway Down, in the year 1761 and for many years after
leased by one Spencer Turner. It stood partly in Wanstead
and partly in Leyton parish, the boundary, a brook, passing
approximately through its centre, the greater half at the above
date being in Leyton, rated at £18, the Wanstead portion at
£6.
The nursery adjoined the "Thatched House" inn, and
extended to what a century ago was called Irish Lane (now
Union Road), so named from the many Irish labourers who,