FORGET-ME-NOT. 275 



ing the trailing branches from their borders into 

 small pots, they would find it a profitable employ 

 to send them to market, for few people would 

 withstand the temptation of purchasing these 

 alluring flowers, that carry in their eye the tale of 

 ** Forget-me-not." 



We have lately found the Myosotis Versicolai^ 

 growing in considerable quantities on the graves 

 in the church-yard of Hoove near Brighthelm- 

 stone. This beautiful but miniature flower ex- 

 hibits a rare instance of plants producing flowers 

 on the same stem of such opppsite colours as blue 

 and yeUow. We observed several plants of this 

 species of Myosotis, with some flowers perfectly 

 yellow, some crimson, and others blue, all blos- 

 soming at one time on the same stem. 



We are informed that the decoction or the juice 

 of the MyosotlsPalustris has the peculiar property 

 of hardening steel, and that if edged tools of that 

 metal be made red-hot and then quenched in the 

 juice or decoction, and this be repeated several 

 times, that the steel will become so hard as to cut 

 iron, or even stone, without turning the edge. 



In the Netherlands, it is common to make a 

 syrup of the juice of the Myosotis, which is given 

 as a remedy against consumptive coughs. 



T 2 



