WAYSIDES AXD HEDGEEOAVS. 47 



of this flower has always been admired, and the old 

 physicians gave innumerable virtues to the plant. It 

 has been made into conserve, and violet sugar was a 

 famous remedy for weak lungs in the time of Charles 

 II. Violet syrup is an old-fashioned remedy for in- 

 fant colds yet in use. Violets will impart both their 

 colour and flavour to liquids, and violet vinegar makes 

 an agreeable acidulated drink when mixed with water 

 in the summer weather ; the leaves of the violet are 

 also applied to bruises with some success. As the 

 season passes by, the Dog Violet (Viola canina) will 

 succeed its sweet-scented brother, and is frequently 

 mistaken for it, though its colour is lighter, and no 

 odour from it " perfumes the air." 



A "tender green" begins to peep from the hedge- 

 row Elder in sheltered nooks, 



"And the dark pine- wood's boughs are seen 

 Fringed tenderly with living green." 



The sword-like leaves of the Blue-bell are peeping 

 up through the russet leaves of the autumn which yet 

 remain. There will be no difficulty in marking the 

 Lesser Celandine (Mcaria ranunculoides), with its 

 bright star-like golden flowerr, dark heart-shaped 

 green leaves, which are sometimes spotted with black, 



