160 BRAMBLES AND BAY LEAVES. 



The leaves of the violet are useful as an application to bruises ; 

 and the flower was so highly esteemed as a medicine for weak 

 lungs, that a conserve, called violet sugar, was, at the time of 

 Charles II., sold by apotliecaries. 



The violet is exceedingly rare in Scotland, although it once flourished 

 among the Highland glens, and on the borders of her beautiful lakes. 

 It was formerly used by the Higliland ladies as a cosmetic, and Pro- 

 fessor Hooker has quoted some lines, said to be from the Gaelic, 

 which would lead us to infer that it was once held in great esteem. 

 " Anoint thy face with goat's milk in which violets have been infused, 

 and there is not a young prince on earth who will not be charmed 

 with thy beauty." We can bear testimony to the cosmetic influence 

 of the violet if merely gathered and carried home for contemplation, 

 and to those of our beloved countrywomen who would wish to preserve 

 and enhance that beauty which has been so lavishly bestowed upon 

 them, we would say, by all means let the violet be your favourite 

 cosmetic ; but bear in mind, it will have no influence whatever, unless 

 it is gathered by those who need its beautifying influence. 



A wine made of the flowers of the sweet violet was much esteemed 

 by the Romans, and was used at their festivals. The violet also con- 

 tributes to those magnificent oriental entertainments where 



" The Persian atar gul's perfume 

 ■ scatters all its odours o'er 



The pictured roof and marbled floor." 



The syrup which is so invariably an accompaniment at these feasts is 

 prepared from roses and violets, and the sherbet of the Turks is com- 

 posed of violet syrups mingled with water. 



But we must not omit to mention those sweet companions of the 

 heath, and the forest — the furze, the heather, and the graceful ferns. 

 The common heath ling, or *' heather" of Scottish poetry is most 

 beautiful ; its rich green foliage and lovely crimson flowers make it a 

 meet companion for the sweet wild thyme and the beautiful hare-bell. 

 The heath lands are usually regarded as desolate and cheerless spots ; 

 but no true lover of nature ever thought so, the wide carpeting of 

 mosses and grasses, and the innumerable lovely flowers which thrive 

 in wild luxuriance upon the heath lands, render those places rich in 

 beauty and rife with the most endearing associations. There are the 

 rich crimson bells of the erica, the golden blossoms of the furze, and 



