io6 THE SHAKESPEARE GARDEN 



tion of the flower buds, only, perhaps half of them 

 well developed and the rest dangling all of unequal 

 lengths. Essentially the cowslip and the primrose 

 are only the same plant in two different forms, the 

 one being convertible into the other. The primrose 

 is the cowslip of the woods and sheltered lanes; the 

 cowslip is the primrose of the fields." 



The name cowslip is not derived from the lips 

 of the cow, but, according to Skeat, the great Anglo- 

 Saxon authority, it comes from an Anglo-Saxon word 

 meaning dung and was given to the plant because 

 it springs up in meadows where cows are pastured. 



"The common field Cowslip," says Parkinson, 

 "I might well forbear to set down, being so plenti- 

 ful in the fields; but because many take delight in 

 it and plant it in their gardens, I will give you the 

 description of it here. It hath divers green leaves, 

 very like unto the wild Primrose, but shorter, 

 rounder, stiffer, rougher, more crumpled about the 

 edges and of a sadder green color, every one stand- 

 ing upon his stalk which is an inch or two long 

 Among the leaves rise up divers long stalks, a foot 

 or more high, bearing at the top many fair, yellow, 

 single flowers with spots of a deep yellow at the 

 bottom of each leaf, smelling very sweet. 



"In England they have divers names according 



