146 TAMILIAN WILTt PLOTTERS. 



hundreds of blossoms. A primrose anywhere is a thing 

 of beauty; but a hedge-bank in spring one mass of its 

 blossoms is still more beautiful. The hyacinth has a 

 delicate grace and richness of colour that makes even a 

 single specimen a delight; but he who would see wild 

 hyacinths at their best must wander at spring-time into 

 the woods, and find himself in a purple sea of flowers 

 stretching beneath the trees as far as eye can reach. 



The woodruff is plentiful in most woods throughout 

 the country, and is conspicuous at any time owing to 

 the form and density of its foliage ; but those who would 

 seek it in flower must wend their way to its woodland 

 home in May or June. A large bunch of it should be 

 brought home; it will last for some time in water; but 

 when it begins to show signs of fading, instead of 

 throwing it aside, it should be tied into a bundle and dried, 

 when it will for months give forth a delicious fragrance. 

 Placed between the leaves of a book, its fragrance remains 

 intact for many years, and in some parts of the country 

 it is put away in drawers amongst the clothes, partly 

 because, like lavender, its odour is appreciated, and partly 

 from an idea that it keeps away the moths. It is also 

 in some rural districts made into a tea, but whether it 

 is drunk on its own merits or as a medicine we are 

 unable to say. 



Gerarde, we see, suggests that the woodruff should 

 be made up into garlands and " hanged up in houses 

 in the heat of summer, as it doth very well attemper 

 the aire and coole and make fresh the place, to the 

 delight and comfort of such as are therein " and he 

 farther suggests that it should be put into wine " to 

 make a man merry, and to be good for the heart and 



