444 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



ago I received a large basketful which had been 

 gathered in a wood in the neighbourhood of 

 Birmingham, where, for aught I know to the 

 contrary, it may still be found, though I withhold 

 the exact locality for obvious reasons. A con- 

 siderable similarity exists in the appearance of 

 this flower and the wild garlic. Of the two, the 

 latter is undoubtedly the' more beautiful, but its 

 ill savour more than nullifies any advantages it 

 may possess as far as its appearance is concerned ; 

 indeed, I am of opinion that the wild garlic is 

 best left alone. It is said that the flowers of the 

 lily of the valley were formerly dried and reduced 

 to a powder, which was, when used as snuff, found 

 an efficient cure for headache. In Germany the 

 flowers, when steeped in wine, are still used for 

 the same purpose. It is, perhaps, the extreme 

 beauty of the flower, its purity, and its delicious 

 fragrance, which in olden time rendered it an 

 object of reverential regard. 



There is, perhaps, no one of our wild-flowers 

 which has been more deservedly lauded for its 

 many virtues than the marsh mallow. A well- 

 known writer remarks of this flower : 4 Every 

 part of this plant is useful.' As its name implies, 

 it is a marsh-loving plant, and by the sea-shore 

 and amongst the salt-marshes its pink blossoms 

 and downy leaves may frequently be observed 

 during the later summer months. Both the root 

 and leaves of this plant are used in medicine in 

 decoction and syrup, and it is from the root that 



