HELLEBORE. 21 



to 1597, as Gerard tells us it was then growing in 

 his garden. Like the Snowdrop, the Black Helle- 

 bore should be planted in considerable quantities 

 to give effect ; it loves a pure air, and will not 

 therefore flourish within the precincts of London. 



The Winter Hellebore, Helleborus hy emails 9 

 blossoms with a yellow flower in February, and is, 

 therefore, a proper plant to give contrast to the 

 snowdrop, either in wilderness walks or under trees 

 in the shrubbery. It grows wild in mountainous 

 situations in Lombardy, Italy, Austria, Silesia, 

 and Switzerland. Our early writers call it Winter 

 Wolf's-bane, Small Yellow Wolf's-bane, Yellow 

 Aconite, and Winter Aconite. It should never be 

 allowed a place in the kitchen-garden, since fatal 

 accidents have arisen from mistaking this root for 

 that of horseradish. No longer back than the 3d of 

 January, 1822, an inquest was held at Frodsham, 

 Cheshire, on the body of Mrs, Gorst, who died in 

 consequence of eating this root, it having been 

 brought to table for horseradish. Her brother-in- 

 law was near falling a sacrifice at the same time. 



These early embellishers of the garden are propa- 

 gated by parting the roots any time between the 

 months of June and October. 



In the neighbourhood of Paris it is common to 

 cultivate Hellebore in pots, as an ornament for the 

 house. 



