COMPOUND FLOWERS 139 



spring, as a boiled vegetable ; and in some of the townships the settlers boil 

 the young leaves and mingle them Avith hops, and thus produce a good home- 

 brewed beer. 



Of the medicinal virtues of the Dandelion there can be no doubt, for it 

 is a good tonic. Whether, as the old writers said, he who was " drawing to 

 a consumption " would find a " wonderful help" from its use, we cannot tell, 

 nor has the distilled water, which they directed to be drunk in pestilential 

 fevers, received any confirmation of its value among modern physicians. It 

 is still, however, recommended for those who have alTections of the liver; 

 and many persons who have suffered in health from a long residence in hot 

 climates have experienced great relief by taking its decoction. We have 

 seen the complexion wonderfully improved by dandelion tea ; but though 

 its use could not be attended with any danger, yet some knowledge of 

 disease is desirable in the use of any medicine, whether vegetable or 

 mineral. 



The Dandelion is a troublesome plant of the pasture, both because of its 

 profusion of seeds, and because every inch of its root-stock forms buds and 

 fibres, and thus constit\ites a new plant, while both sheep and cows seem to 

 dislike its foliage. The English name for the plant is a corruption of the 

 French Dent-de-lion, and was given because of its leaves, the lobes of which 

 were fancied to resemble the tooth of the lion. It is general in the pastures 

 of Europe, and throughout the temperate and cold regions of the earth. 

 James Russell Lowell's verses to it have probably caused many to examine 

 the flower who had formerly passed it as unworthy of attention. 



'" Dear common flower that grow'st beside the way, 



Fringing the dusty road with harmless gold — 

 First pledge of blithesome May 



Which children pluck, and full of pride upholii, 

 High-hearted buccaneers, o'erjoy'd that they 



An Eldorado in the grass have found, 



Which not the rich earth's ample round 

 May match in wealth — thou art more dear to me 

 Than all the prouder summer blooms may be. 



" Gold such as thine ne'er drew the Spanish prow 



Through the primeval hush of Indian seas, 

 Nor wrinkled the lean brow 



Of age to rob the lover's heart of ease ; 

 'Tis the spring's largess which she scatters now 



To rich and poor alike with lavish hand, 



Though most hearts never understand 

 To take it at God's value, and pass by 

 The open'd wealth with unrewarded eye." 



13. Hawkweed (Hierddum). 



This genus is one of a most perplexing character, our most skilful botanists 

 differing as to the exact number of species which it contains. The species 

 here described are, however, probably all which can be considered as truly 

 indigenous to this country. Many others are either doubtful natives, or are 

 likely to prove varieties of the species enumerated in this list. The student, 

 however, intent on closely investigating the minute characteristics of all the 

 plants of this troublesome genus, will find the Hawkweeds, with all their 

 varieties, and with reference to the synonyms and opinions of various British 



18—2 



