272 ON THE HONEYSUCKLE. 



distance, particularly in the morning and evening. They are easily 

 propagated, either by layers or cuttings ; but the latter are pre- 

 ferred. The cuttings should have four joints, three of which 

 should be buried in the earth, and the fourth above the surface, 

 from which the shoots are produced. September is the best 

 month for planting the woodbine cuttings. How greatly would 

 our hedges be improved by a few cuttings being stuck in the 

 ground ; how little the trouble, the expence none, — but the de- 

 lightful air would well repay the labour. 



We should have passed over the medicinal qualities of this 

 plant, had we not accidentally opened the work of a student in 

 physic, who flourished in London, in the year 1681 ; and as we 

 conclude it is but little known to the students of 1 839, we extract 

 it for the sole purpose of benefiting the faculty — by a laugh. 



This learned ^Esculapian author says, under the head ' Wood- 

 bind,' " It is a plant so common, that every one that hath eyes 

 knows them ; and he that hath none cannot read a description if I 

 should write it. Doctor Tradition, that grand introducer of errors 

 that hater of truth, that lover of folly, and that mortal foe to Doc- 

 tor Reason, hath taught the common people to use the leaves of 

 flowers of this plant in mouth waters ; and by long continuance of 

 time hath so grounded it in the brains of the vulgar, that you cannot 

 beat it out with a beetle. All mouth waters ought to be cooling 

 and drying, but honeysuckles are cleansing, consuming, and di- 

 gesting, and therefore no ways fit for inflammations ; thus Doctor 

 Reason. And, if you please, we will leave Doctor Reason awhile, 

 and come to Doctor Experience, a learned gentleman and his 

 brother. Take a leaf and chew it in your mouth, and you will 

 quickly find it likelier to cause a sore mouth, or throat, than to 

 cure it. It is an herb of Mercury, and appropriated to the lungs ; 

 the celestial crab claims dominion over it, neithei is it a foe to 

 the Lion ; if the lungs be afflicted by Jupiter, this is your cure." 



The leaves of the woodbine are the favourite food of the goat 

 hence the French have named this plant, Chevre-feuillc (Goat's- 

 leaf.) 



