BORAGE TRIBE 265 



do not appear to have confirmed Professor Buckman's views, and the two forms 

 are still regarded as distinct species. They are found, however, to have 

 exactly the same properties ; and as the wild Comfrey seems, when brought 

 from its native river side, to improve and not to degenerate under culture, 

 it may some day, as Professor Buckman believes, become a valuable addition 

 to the plants now used as fodder. 



2. Tuberous Comfrey (*S'. hiberdsum). —^tem. scarcely branched ; leaves 

 oblong, narroAved below ; stem-leaves lanceolate, upper ones generally in pairs, 

 large, and running slightly down the stem ; root-stock short, perennial. 

 This species is common in Scotland, on the borders of rivers, and in shady 

 woods, but is rare in England. It is a smaller and more slender plant than 

 the preceding, and has yellowish-white flowers in June and July It differs 

 in the character of the root-fibres, which are fleshy in the case of S. officinale, 

 and slender in the present species. 



9. Borage (Bordgo). 



Common Borage (B. officinalis). — Stem-leaves tapering below into 

 stalks, eared at the base ; root-leaves inversely egg-shaped, narrowed below ; 

 whole plant rough with whitish tubercled hairs ; biennial. The Borage is a 

 very handsome plant, when, from June to September, its brilliant blue flowers 

 form terminal clusters. Its stem is about two feet high ; both that and the 

 flower-stalks often tinged with red, and, like the leaves, it is rough, with 

 sharp tubercled bristles. The flowers are large, their azure petals varied by 

 the prominent purplish-black anthers. The Borage may often be found near 

 houses and in waste places, doubtless having in many cases escaped from the 

 garden; but although not indigenous, it seems quite naturalized on some 

 spots. It is an old garden flower, and has a place in the border both on 

 account of its blossoms and for its various uses. Bishop Mant says — 



"Or woald you deign — as who that vvoos 

 Boon Nature's favours woiild refuse ? — 

 The dusty pathway's side to try, 

 Or rubbish heap ? With bright blue eye 

 Your pains the bugloss will repay, 

 And, famed for driving care away, 

 Dipp'd in a broader brighter blue, 

 Rough Borage" 



But it would need the pen of one of those undoubting writers, the 

 herbalists, properly to set forth the virtues for which this plant was • 

 renowned. The adage, 



"I, Borage, always bring courage," 



was received in all good faith by our ancestors, who deemed this plant one 

 of the four " cordial flowers," which most deserved their esteem for cheering 

 the spirits ; the others being the rose, violet, and alkanet. They put the 

 Borage blossoms and young shoots in soups, pickled the tender leaves, or 

 ate them in salad ; candied the bright azure petals into sweetmeats ; mingled 

 them with wine, water, lemon, and sugar, into a beverage, yet liked by some, 

 and still called by its old name of "cool tankard " ; and having ate or drank 

 the Borage, went forth to work or to warfare with good hope of success. 



II.— 34 



