104 FLORA ORCADENSIS. 
Wormwoop, Artemisia absinthiwmn. 
An infusion of the leaves was given for dyspepsia 
and for worms. It was grown in most gardens or 
yards. The whole leaves, stems, and flowers were 
boiled, and the juice bottled and drunk when cooled. 
It was used as a tonic. It was also used as a pre- 
servative from moths. Stalks were placed in the 
blanket-chest. 
Yarrow, or MILuFoiL. Achillea millefoluwm. 
The dried flowers were infused, and the liquid 
drunk as a stimulant like tea. Mr Pat. Neill says: 
— «At Kerbuster, Deerness, I observed laid out to 
dry a large collection of flowering tops of the dwarfy 
millfoil (Achillea mallefolia).” 
SmMerows, Trifoliam repens. 
To find a four-partite clover-leaf was considered 
a good omen. It was used as one of the most 
common of Orcadian charms. It brought luck on 
all occasions and in all circumstances. Mr Delday, 
poet, Deerness, pointed out one of the most efficacious 
of its charms when he said that his mother bade him, 
on the occasion of the Lammas Market, Kirkwall, 
look for a smerow and put it in his boot till the 
market was over, for then the “cheap Johns” would 
not be able to cheat him, whilst he at the same time 
would be enabled to see through all their sleights of 
art; and, in addition, no wily spinster would be able 
to captivate him. 
