1 94 WEEDS OF FARM LAND 



hot water and drunk as tea. A red dye can be obtained 

 from the root. 



Galium verum (Ladies' bedstraw). The plant is of distinct 

 value in dyeing, as a bright yellow colour is obtained from the 

 flowering tops boiled in alum, and the roots yield a red dye 

 equal to madder. 1 The plant is made use of by the High- 

 landers, who boil the roots with the yarn, adding alum to fix 

 the colour. 2 Some authorities say the dye is superior to 

 madder, and at one time it was recommended for cultivation, 

 when experimental plots yielded a crop of \2\ cwt. dried roots 

 per acre. It has been supposed that the bones of animals 

 turned red if the beasts fed on this plant, the colouring 

 taking place sooner in young than in fully grown animals, 

 while it was deepest in those whose bones were hardest and 

 thickest. 3 The popular name of "cheese rennet" is derived 

 from the fact that the whole plant when bruised will curdle 

 milk, and in the Hebrides it is used for this purpose, combined 

 with leaves of common nettle (Urtica dioicd] and a little salt. 

 It is also used both to colour and flavour milk intended for 

 cheese, and vinegar is sometimes made from its juices. 



Genista tinctoria (Wood-wax). This yields a bright yellow 

 dye, and if articles dyed with it are then dipped into a blue 

 solution of woad (I satis tinctoria] the celebrated " Kendal 

 green " is obtained. 4 The colour is fixed with alum, cream 

 of tartar, and sulphate of lime. 5 



Geum urbanum (Avens). The herbage is greedily devoured 

 by sheep, and when young may be used for salads and other 

 culinary purposes. 1 The plant was much esteemed by her- 

 balists, and since 1780 has been used as a febrifuge, 6 and has 

 even been recommended as a substitute for Peruvian bark in 

 the cure of intermittent fevers. If gathered in spring and put 

 into ale avens gives the liquor a pleasant flavour and prevents 

 it turning sour. The root, if chewed, is said to overcome 

 disagreeable odour of the breath. Medically it was once much 

 in repute as a specific for diarrhcea and dysentery. 7 



Heracleum sphondylium (Hogweed). Has been extensively 

 used in Sussex for fattening hogs, and makes good nourishing 

 food for cattle. 1 In the Hebrides the stems are eaten, and 

 an attempt has been made to manufacture sugar from the 



1 Wilson, loc. cit, 2 Knapp, loc. cit. 



3 Pratt, loc. cit. 4 Lindley and Moore, loc. cit. 



5 Johnson, loc. cit. 6 Woodville, loc. cit. 



7 Stephenson, J., and Churchill, J. M. (1834), " Medical Botany ". 



