16 



these mistletoe-oaks. He would therefore pass on at once to call their attention 

 to another rare plant of the Forest of Deerfold, and that was 



THE ASAKUM EUKOPOEUM.— iinw. 



THE ASAKABACCA, 



One of the Natural Order Arisitolochice. It was not only new to Herefordshire, 

 but was only to be found in four other places in England and in one in Scotland. 

 It grew upon a hedgebank, amongst the old roots of thorns and brambles, in the 

 Forest of Deerfold and in the parish of "Wigmore, for thirty or forty yards. 

 It was in a thoroughly wild state, and far removed from any cottage or other 

 habitation, nor, he was assured, was the plant to be found growing in any of 

 the gardens of the neighbourhood. 



The Asarabacca was a plant with considerable medical properties, and 

 until quite recently held its place in the Pharmacopoeias. It is emetic and 

 purgative, and used as Ipecacuanha would be used. The plant had, as they 

 might know, but a couple of leaves, somewhat resembling the human ear in 

 shape and size. Now, in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, the absurd 

 belief in the doctrine of "signatures" prevailed — that is, the belief that aU 

 natural productions indicated by some external mark the diseases in which 

 they are efficacious ; and thus the Asarabacca was used in all aflfections of the 

 ear — as the scarlet poppy was for erysipelas, the yellow juiced celadine for 

 jaundice, the mottled lungwort for diseases of the lungs, the knotted figwort 

 for scrofulous swellings, &c., &o. Its latest medical use, however, was as a 

 snuff with marjoram and lavender, and of which it formed an active ingredient. 

 The great renown of this plant for its medical virtues from the earliest times 

 has always led to the suspicion of its having been introduced into the few 

 localities in which it is known, and from the fact of there having been a chantry 

 in the Forest of Deerfold, in the fourteenth century, it is possible that 

 "William the Hermit," as^the recluse was called who lived here, introduced it 

 into the Forest. 



THE JUNIPERUS COMMUNIS. 



Common junijier also grows very freely on the eastern side of the Forest, 

 and this was not a common plant in Herefordshire. 



Dr. BuU added that so few people knew there ever was a Forest of Deer- 

 fold in this county, that he hoped at a future meeting to be able to tell them 

 something about it (applause) . 



The descent from the Camp was now made in the direction of Ledbury, 

 through the elm-studded meadows of the Leadon to the Feathers Hotel. Dinner 

 was made vei-y welcome by the long walk, and it was well provided. " Were the 

 funguses eaten " does any stranger ask. They were, every one of them. Forty. 

 seven guests at the table out of fifty-two partook of them with much satisfaction. 



