87 



request in many of our country districts yet. Indeed, I know of 

 one country blacksmith living at a ripe healthy old age now, who 

 averred to me that the only medicine he ever took when ailing, 

 was tea made from this plant, and "a pint or two of yell efter." 



Of the Mallows, the Common Mallow, Malva sylvestris, is the 

 one most generally seen, and is often called the Marsh Mallow, 

 and is used with the same efTect. In fact the Marsh Mallow, 

 Althea officinalis, is not so common as is supposed. The very 

 handsome Musk Mallow, M. moschata, may be found on the 

 gravel beds at Cummersdale, and down by the side of the Eden. 

 A white variety grows in Wreay churchyard. 



Of the St. John's Worts, Hypericum, the Common St. John's 

 Wort is found in profusion on many of our railway banks, the 

 Scar, etc. This is the one with the seemingly perforated leaves, 

 the perforations really being oil glands, and which possibly have 

 something to do with its healing qualities. It is much sought 

 after by herbalists, who make an excellent ointment from it. Gerard e 

 says, "St. John's Wort doth make an oyle the colour of blood, 

 which is a most pretious remedy for deep wounds and those that 

 thorow the body, or any wound made with a venomed weapon." 

 If. quadranguliini, Square-Stalked St. John's Wort, grows on the 

 Scar, as also does the Bearded Hypericum, H. montanum. The 

 very pretty trailing St. John's Wort, H. humifusutn, may be found 

 in the hedge bank from between the top of the Scar and Kingmoor 

 Wood. 



Of the Geranium order we have the Dusky Cranes-bill, G.phcsm7i, 

 near the House of Recovery, and at Rockcliffe, possibly a garden 

 escape ; but as I have never seen it under cultivation, the matter 

 is open to some doubt. The Shining Cranes-bill, G. lucidum, in 

 a hedge behind the Print Works at Cummersdale ; the Long- 

 Stalked Cranes-bill, G. columbinum, at Cummersdale; the Wood 

 Cranes-bill, at Wetheral ; while nowhere so fine as on Stainton 

 Banks grows the beautiful blue Meadow Cranes-bill, G. pratense ; 

 a white variety of the Herb Robert, G. roberfianum, may be met 

 with about Woodbank and Brisco. The Storks-bill,* E. ciaitarium, 

 * Since found on Grinsdale Gravel Bed. 



