198 THE FRUITS OP THE COUNTRY-SIDE 



the plant often allays the oppression of asthma. Atropine, 

 a preparation obtained from the root, is a well-known 

 agent that, amongst divers other uses, is largely employed 

 by oculists for dilating the pupil of the eye, to aid them 

 in operations for cataract and other eye troubles. It is 

 probably to the dwale that Shakespeare refers in the 

 well-known passage, " Have we eaten of the insane root 

 that takes the reason prisoner?" It is curious that 

 horses, sheep, rabbits, goats, pigs browse on the foliage 

 with impunity, while many birds find in the berries a 

 welcome food. 



JUNIPER (JuNiPERUs Communis) 



On dry, barren hillsides, ^ sandy heaths, and open 

 woods, ^ or on the great expanses of our chalk downs, 

 one may find the Juniper flourishing and clothing the 

 waste places with a quaint and characteristic vegetation. 

 Though it may occasionally be found as a small tree it 

 is more ordinarily but a bush, anything, in fact, from 

 about six inches to four feet in height, according to the 

 bleakness or the sheltered nature of its position. It is also 

 liable to be considerably grazed down whilst still young 

 and tender, by sheep, and it is, as the hardness of the 

 conditions under which we usually find it would lead 

 one to expect, a rather slow-growing plant. 



' And where low-tufted broom, 

 Or box, or berry'd juniper arise. 



Dyer, "The Fleece." 

 • Our woods with juniper and chestnuts crown'd, 

 With falling fruit and berries paint the ground ; 

 And lavish Nature laughs, and strews her stores around. 



Dryden, "Seventh Pastoral." 



