THE HYACINTH AND THE GROUND-IVY 441 



poisoning their hands, any previous sore place 

 on the latter being liable to fester severely. 



With the appearance of the purple-blue flowers 

 of the wild hyacinth, the spring may be said to be 

 well established ; nor do any of our many wild- 

 flowers add more to the fresh brightness of our 

 woodlands and hedgerow-banks. Where it grows 

 it does so in profusion not here and there, but it 

 literally 'clothes the grass of the field.' With the 

 classic fable of Hyacinthus, from which the plant is 

 named, everyone is doubtless well acquainted. It 

 is often, most erroneously, termed the bluebell, a 

 name belonging exclusively to the harebell. 



From the root, which yields a strong, glutinous 

 substance, a kind of starch was formerly manu- 

 factured. A well-known botanical writer states 

 that this starch was used for stiffening muslin, 

 fixing the feathers to arrows, etc. ; and also that 

 the flowers of the plant were worn by the Grecian 

 maidens at bridals, a custom which gave rise to 

 the term ' hyacinthine locks.' The plant has, ap- 

 parently, no real or supposed medicinal virtues. 



The ground ivy, otherwise termed gill, ale- 

 hoof, cat's-maid, etc., may be found by the sides 

 of many of our roads and hedges, or by some 

 crumbling, ruined wall. A kind of tea is often 

 made from this plant by the country people, who 

 use it as a tonic. It is also said to be of service 

 as an eyewash. The whole plant is strongly, and 

 by no means unpleasantly, scented. 



Wherever sedges are abundant by the sides of 



