80 FAMILY HERBAL. 



smell, and of a mixed taste of cinnamon and cloves ; 

 the cinnamon flavour is first perceived^ but after 

 that the taste of cloves is predominant, and is so 

 very strong, that it seems to burn the mouth. It is 

 excellent against the colic ; and it warms and 

 strengthens the stomach, and assists digestion : it 

 is also a cordial, and in small doses joined with 

 other medicines promotes sweat. It is not much 

 used fairly in practice, but many tricks are played 

 with it by the chy mists, to imitate or adulterate 

 the several productions of cloves and cinnamon, for 

 it is cheaper than either. 



The Clove July Flower. Caryophijllus ruber. 



A COMMON and very beautiful flower in 



our gardens ; it has its name from the aroma- 

 tic smell, which resembles the clove spice, and 

 from the time of its flowering which is in July. 

 It is a carnation only of one colour, a deep and 

 fine purple. The plant grows two feet high ; 

 the leaves are grassy ; the stalks are round and 

 jointed ; the flower grows at the tops of the 

 branches^ and the whole plant besides is of a bluish 



green. 



The flowers are used ; they are cordial, and 

 good for disorders of the head ; they may be 

 dried, and taken in powder or in form of tea, 

 but the best form is the syrup. This is made 

 by pouring five pints of boiling water upon three 

 pounds of the flowers picked from the husks, 

 and with the white heels cut off* : after they 

 iave stood twelve hours, straining off" the clear 

 liquor without pressing, and dissolving in it two 

 pound of the finest sugar to every pint. This 

 makes the most beautiful and pleasant of all 

 syrups. 



