POX-GLOVE. 190 



ancc resembling some of the American lieaths 

 when in flower. It is a tolerably hardy perennial 

 plant that will thrive in any sheltered part of the 

 open garden. 



The Madeira Fox- Glove, Sceptriwh is a beau- 

 tiful plant, which frequently grows to the height 

 of ten feet under the cultivation of the florist in 

 the neighbourhood of Ghent. This species was 

 first discovered in the woods of Madeira by 

 Masson, who introduced it to this country in 

 1777 ; but, as it requires the shelter of a green- 

 house for the winter months, it continues rare in 

 our flower-gardens. Our botanical gardens now 

 possess thirteen distinct species of the Digitalis, 

 besides varieties. 



The DigitaUs, which, at present, performs so 

 essential a part in the Materia MecUca, appears 

 to have been entirely unknown to the ancient 

 sons of uEsculapius ; and it is to the English 

 students of medicine that Europe is indebted for 

 the discovery of the powerful properties of this 

 plant, so justly celebrated for relieving many 

 dangerous complaints ; for, although it has fallen 

 short of entirely crushing the gigantic and terri- 

 ble progress of consumptions, as at one time 

 hopes were entertained that it would have done, 

 yet it has been found a valuable remedy in that 

 disease, as well as in dropsy, fevers, inflamma- 



