THE FARMER AT HOME. 215 



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t ,e stomach, which at length extends to the whole region of the abdo- 

 en. is carried to a still greater height, and produces pain over the 

 . hole body, sleeplessness, convulsions, raving madness, until at length 

 1 3ath puts an end to the scene. 



HUSK. Among Botanists, the part which a flower grows out of. 

 1 he husks or cups of the flowers of plants are not so much regarded 

 \ r ith a view to their medicinal virtues as they deserve. Petiver, in 

 t le Philosophical Transactions, speaking of the virtues of the verti- 

 : illate class of plants, among which are included the sage, rosemary, 

 c nd the like, observes that it is an erroneous, though general opinion, 

 that the flowers of these plants contain their principal virtues, for that 

 the husks are the part in which it is lodged. For instance, in the 

 josemary, the fine scent of the Hungary- water is not in the flowers, 

 but husks; and the flowers alone, when clean picked from them, yield 

 very little odor. The cup, in this and other plants of the same class, 

 is the only part in which their viscous and sulphureous qualities are 

 lodged, and that something of this kind is deposited particularly there, 

 may be perceived by the touch and smell ; for they appear moist and 

 feel clammy ; and this clammy matter, when received upon the fingers, 

 is of a very strong and agreeable smell, much more so than the rest 

 of the plant. 



HYACINTH. The numerous and splendid varieties of the garden 

 hyacinth have always been general favorites, and, in some countries, 

 the fondness for this plant amounts to a complete mania. In Holland, 

 upwards of two thousand varieties have received distinct names, recog- 

 nised by the different florists, and the price of one thousand florins has 

 been paid for a single plant. The environs of some of the Dutch 

 towns astonish the traveller, from the gorgeous appearance produced 

 by the vast profusion of these flowers. The wild plant is a native of 

 the Levant, and has a bulbous root, from which rise a few linear lance- 

 olate leaves and a leafless stem, bearing six or eight bell-shaped 

 flowers, of a blue or white color. The cultivated double varieties have 

 very graceful forms and a remarkable diversity of color. The natural 

 affinities of this plant place it in the same family with the squill and 

 the onion. All the species of hyacinth are natives of the eastern 

 continent. 



HYBERNATION. Hybernation :s that state of inaction and rest, 

 which some animals and many plants undergo during the cold season 

 of the year, and exhibits some remarkable phenomena, well deserving 

 the attention of the naturalist. On the approach of winter, the 

 badger, the marmot, ground squirrel, frog, toad, snakes, and some 

 other animals, betake themselves to their retreats in the earth, where, 

 in a torpid, motionless state, with but just circulation enough to pre- 

 serve vitality, they remain until the returning summer rouses their 

 drowsing faculties to action once more. Those instances in which 

 animals and insects have been found in positions where they must 



