34 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



" reefarts," or " ryfarts " radish, possibly Brassica Sinapis, 

 and " sybous," young onions (Allhun Cepa). 



In " Scornful Nancy," of unknown age and authorship, 

 first printed by Ramsay in 1724, we have :- 



" What ails ye at my dad," quo' he, 

 "My minnie, or my auntie ? 

 Wi' crowdy-mowdy they feed me, 



Lang kail an' ranty-tanty, 

 Wi' chappit stocks fu' buttered weel, 

 An' isna that richt dainty ? " 



From this it appears that ranty-tanty, the broad -leaved 

 Sorrel {Ruinex Acetosa) was used as a pot-herb. That nettles 

 were often made a meal of is well known, and doubtless both 

 Urtica dioica and U. urens filled the pot. We have often 

 wondered whether the frequent occurrence of U. urens on 

 former house sites is an indication that they were planted. 

 Near the railway station of Banchory this plant grows 

 plentifully, just where the old records declare that the first 

 village of Banchory-Ternan stood. You will also find it 

 about the old town of Stonehaven, and the fishing villages 

 of Cove, Collieston, etc. 



Wild plants were also made into condiments and season- 

 ings. There are farmhouses to be found where the old 

 practice of using caraway seeds as a flavour exists, but there are 

 very few places where they are now grown. It is more accord- 

 ing to our ways to buy such things. On the historical estate 

 of Tilquhillie, at Banchory, the roadside at one point near an 

 old cottage has quite a hedge of Caruni Carui growing along 

 it for 20 yards, and its seed is used to flavour both cheese 

 and oatcakes. 



Myrrh (JMyrrhis odoratd] grows on many banks of our 

 streams, always in places where there is reason to believe 

 that it has escaped from cultivation. It may have been 

 grown for its sweet juice and used as a sort of liquorice ; 

 but in some districts, at least, Sweet Cicely was made to 

 serve the purpose of perfume for the more valued articles 

 of cottage furniture. 



Such are a few indications of what may be learned from 

 an interesting subject, which appears to have been neglected 

 hitherto. 



