THE HARVEST OF THE HEDGES [To the Editor of THE
SPECTATOR.]
• have read the delightful article in your issue of September 11th, .entitled " The Harvest of the Hedges," by Mr. S. L. Bensusan. But, whilst ardently endorsing all that he says of the grievous wastage, either through stupid indifference or *sheer ignorance, of each autumn's free and lovely hedgerow gifts, may I be permitted a protest on behalf of numerous Women's Institutes, less inept than the one referred to ?
In the counties of Worcestershire, 'Warwickshire, Shropshire, and in Cheshire especially, this delicate art of home wine- making, distilling cordials, decocting tisanes, herbal remedies, Sze., is constantly taught and practised, in quite a number of Institutes. It is recognised as one of our most _popular and useful " demonstrations." So much . so that in this district it is difficult to obtain a free date for .booking a " course " from our local expert, a lady of great skill and experience, enviably possessed of innumerable ancestral recipes and prescriptions, handed down for generations in her family.
It may possibly be a slight consolation to know that, in these counties at any rate, this kindly time-honoured accom- plishment not only survives, but is consistently fostered and encouraged by'Women's Institutes, less sourly prejudiced and absurdly trammelled than the one so justly -pilloried.-- Tarporley, Cheshire.
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