YARROW 



lore, the materia medica, and the literature of many 

 peoples. 



One of the stories told of the plant's medicinal 

 virtues is that an ointment made from it will heal all 

 wounds. This is said still to be used in Scotland and 

 Iceland. In mythology it was the centaur Chiron 

 who told Achilles of this wonderful ointment, that he 

 might heal his soldiers wounded at Troy. There- 

 fore, the plant is Achillea to the botanist. As a love- 

 charm it still survives among the peasants of Great 

 Britain in that form of domestic divination of which 

 both Scotch and English folk-lore is so full. On 

 midsummer eve, a bunch of Yarrow under the pil- 

 low is supposed to bring to the sleeper in dreams the 

 future husband or wife. An old rhyme showing this 

 belief is still extant: 



"Thou pretty herb of Venus tree 

 Thy true name it is Yarrow 



Now, who my dearest friend shall be 

 Pray, tell thou me tomorrow," 



The interesting question arises: How has the Yar- 

 row succeeded in accomplishing so much? First of 

 all, it is a composite, second, it is a perennial, more- 

 over, it increases both by runners and by seeds; its 

 flowering season is long; brimming with nectar, it 

 attracts many insects; and what is, perhaps, most 

 important of all its magnificent vitality enables it 

 to live and prosper where others perish. 



2SI 



