52 A GARDEN OF HERBS 



This is an old practice, and experience shows it right and 

 excellent " ; then he adds, " Here let us stop a moment 

 and adore the goodness of Divine Providence which makes 

 the best things the most common. The Segroms which can 

 do only mischief are found in but a few places : this so full 

 of excellence grows at our doors, and we tread it everywhere 

 under our feet." 



Formerly the Bavarian peasants made garlands of Colts- 

 foot flowers on Easter Day and threw it into the fire, but 

 the origin of this is unknown. In the Highlands there are 

 still women who stuff their pillows with the silky Coltsfoot 

 down, and it makes the softest pillows imaginable. In 

 other parts of Scotland there is a curious belief that where 

 Coltsfoot grows abundantly it indicates the presence of 

 coal, and they also say that when Coltsfoot down flies away 

 when there is no wind it is a sure sign of coming rain. 



SYRUP OF COLTSFOOT. Make three infusions, one after 

 another, of colts-foot, each time halfe a pound in a quart 

 of water; the last infusion being strained, clarifie it and 

 put it into a pound and a halfe of good Sugar, and boil it 

 to the height of a Syrup : the which Syrup amounteth to 

 penny half-penny the ounce. The Charitable Physitian, by 

 Philbert Guibert, Physitian Regent in Paris, 1639. 



COLTSFOOT TEA. Pour a quart of boiling water on two 

 handfuls of the leaves. 



CORIANDER 



" And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna : 

 and it was like Coriander seed, white ; and the taste of it 

 was like wafers made with honey." Exodus xvi. 31. 



" Coriander taken out of season doth trouble a mann's 

 witt with great jeopardy of madness." William Turner, 

 A Newe Herball, 1551. 



Coriander, Mallows, Chervil and Dill love to grow near 

 each other, is told us by nearly all the old herbalists, and as 

 they flower about the same time, they look very well 

 together. Coriander was one of the bitter herbs ordained 



