62 Transactions. 



ranunculus family is early, whereas the foxglove is rather a 

 July flower. 



Marigold. — There was a curious notion that this flower opened 

 or shut with the sun. 



" The marigold that goes to bed with the sun and with him rises weeping." 



Winter's Tale, IV., 3. 

 " When winking Mary-buds begin 

 To ope their golden eyes, 

 With everything that jiretty bin 

 My maiden sweet arise. " 



Cym. , II. , 3 — Description of morning. 



Plantain. — This plant was valued because of its supposed 

 healing virtues for wounds. 



Rom. — " Your plantain leaf is excellent for that." 

 Benvolio — " For what, I pray thee ?" 

 Rom. — " For your broken skin." 



In Scotland a leaf of the plantain, called the waeburn leaf, or 

 ivaybread leaf, used to be wrapped round a toe with a corn to 

 mollify the pain thereof. 



Rosemary, or as it is called Sweet Mary in Dumfriesshire, is 

 an old-fashioned garden perennial. It is a Labiate, but comes 

 from the Mediterranean basin. In Shakespeare's time it seems 

 to have been a symbol for memory. 



" There's rosemary, that's for remembrance." 



Hamlet. 

 In " Winter's Tale "— 



" For you there's rosemary and rue, these keep ; 

 Seeming and savour all the winter long. 

 Grace and remembrance be to you both, 

 And welcome to our sheep-shearing." 



RiLsh. — Rushes were strewn upon floors previous to the intro- 

 duction of carpets. In " Cymbeline " — ■ 

 " Tarcpiin thus 

 Did softly press the rushes." 

 In " Henry IV. '— 



" She bids you in the wanton rushes lay you down and rest your gentle 

 head upon her lap. " 



Vide also " Romeo and Juliet," I., 4. The " rush candle " is 

 mentioned in the " Taming of the Shrew." 



There is a funny illusion to the Haiothorn in " A Midsummer 

 Night's Dream " — 



"This man, with lanthorne, dog, and bush of thorn represented 

 Moonshine." ' 



