70 PRIMULACE^E 



stalks of the Avondrous height of three feet ; and purple polyanthuses and 

 pink dwarf Primroses nestled among the rocks ; while one exquisite species, 

 blue as sapphires, sj)arkled like these gems among the turf ; then came 

 gentians, and a large species of rhubarb, which waved its graceful pyramid of 

 white flowers above them all. 



But we are wandering far from the flower of our woodlands, which, with 

 wrinkled leaves, opens with the budding trees. The leaf is very similar to 

 that of the Cowslip, but the observer will perceive the difference between the 

 two in the gradual narrowing of the Primrose leaf towards the base, while 

 that of the Cowslip suddenly narrows just below the middle, forming a foot- 

 stalk. The leaves of both flowers are agreeable to silkworms, and the roots 

 possess an emetic property, and were of old much iised medicinally. The 

 blossoms are still in country places made into a pretty pale yellow ointment, 

 which we have ourselves often applied to the wounds made by briars and 

 thorns, but which probably owes its chief efficacy to some other of the various 

 ingredients of which it is composed. The Auricula of ovu* gardens 

 (P. auricula), Avhich grows in abundance on the Lower Alps of Switzerland, 

 was in much repute among our old writers on plants. It was called Bear's- 

 ears, and among other wonderful cures effected by it, it received much 

 praise for its use in curing diseases caused by having " inadvertently eaten 

 the sea hare." This poor little harmless animal, so frequent on our shores, 

 seems to have been held in the greatest dread, and even its touch deemed dele- 

 terious. How it could be " eaten inadvertently " is a m.aryel, but a large variety 

 of plants are strongly recommended to be used against its various injuries. 



Michael Drayton, describing the wedding-garlands of his day, enumerates 

 several of this genus among many well-known flowers : — 



" To sort which flowers some sit ; some making garlands were, 

 The Primrose placing first, because that in the spring 

 It is the first appears then only flourishing ; 

 The azui'ed harebell next with them they neatly mix'd, 

 To allay whose luscious smell they woodbind placed betwixt ; 

 Amongst those things of scent, then prick they in the lilly, 

 And next to that again her sister daffadilly ; 

 To sort these flowers of show with the others that were sweet, 

 The Cowslip then they couch, and the Oxlip for her meet : 

 The columbine amongst, they sparingly do set, 

 The yellow king-cup wrought in many a curious fret, 

 And now and then among of eglantine a spray, 

 By which again a course of lady-smocks they lay ; 

 The crow-flower, and thereby the clover-flower, they stick 

 The daisy over all those sundiy sweets so thick 

 As Nature doth herself ; to imitate her right, 

 Who seems in that her part so greatly to delight, 

 That every plain therewith she powdreth to behold ; 

 The crimson darnel-flower, the blue-bottle and gold, 

 Which though esteem'd l)ut weeds, yet for their dainty hues, 

 And for their scent not ill, they for this purpose choose." 



Many more flowers were added to the list ; so many, that one is ready 

 to pity the bride or her maidens, who must have been overloaded with these 

 sweets. But spare your pity, gentle reader, for never did all these flowers 

 bloom together at one season ; a circumstance to which the older poets rarely 

 paid the slightest attention in their narratives or allusions. 



