THE COWSLIP 429 



wind, thereby exposing their silvery under sides 

 to view. It is one of the commonest of all British 

 plants, and by no means the least valuable. The 

 leaves, when dried, are still used at times, when 

 mixed with tobacco, as a cure for asthma and other 

 similar complaints. It is said that the down from 

 the seed-vessels was formerly, when steeped in 

 saltpetre, used as tinder, and, when simply dried 

 and beaten out, for the purpose of stuffing cushions 

 and pillows. It flowers in early spring. 



Cowslip - time may well be regarded as the 

 brightest time in all the year, for everything is, 

 or should be, surely then at its best and gayest. 

 The golden flowers are ever welcome to all save 

 the farmer, who can hardly be expected to regard 

 with any especial degree of favour the profusion 

 of a plant which is indicative of poverty of soil ; 

 and this the cowslip invariably denotes, since it 

 thrives best where the soil is worst. 



The cowslip was formerly supposed to possess 

 certain medicinal virtues for the cure of paralysis 

 and similar affections, being believed to stimulate 

 and strengthen the brain and nerves. A cosmetic 

 was also prepared from this plant, and the leaves 

 utilized as a salad. Cowslip wine is an excellent 

 home-made wine, and cowslip-tea is by no means 

 to be despised ; the latter is said to be a sedative 

 drink. The cowslip is also, in certain districts, 

 termed the * paigle,' a name the derivation of 

 which I have never been able to discover. 



The cuckoo -pint, wild arum, or, as I have 



