448 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



small ; the petals turned back ; the anthers yellow ; 

 the berries are, when ripe, of a crimson colour, 

 though previously yellow, and at first green. It 

 may be found in every hedgerow, and is, perhaps, 

 most luxuriant when growing by the riverside. 

 Trout are especially partial to the shade afforded 

 by its overhanging branches, a fact of which 

 fishermen are not slow to avail themselves. 



Any description of the nettle would be super- 

 fluous, but it may at the same time prove of some 

 interest to the reader to know that, rank and 

 offensive weed though it may be, it is neverthe- 

 less a most useful plant in a variety of ways. 

 When boiled, the young shoots form an excellent 

 vegetable food ; uncooked, it is by no means a 

 despicable provender for cattle. A decoction 

 made from the leaves is a good astringent gargle 

 for sore throat ; the seeds, when ground, are stated 

 to be a cure for goitre. The stinging power of 

 the leaves has even been turned to account as a 

 cure for paralysis. I was once much amused by 

 an old man in our village telling me how he had 

 cured himself by the use of stinging-nettles. He 

 had been for a long time suffering from cold feet, 

 and to such an extent as to interfere with his rest. 

 One night he could stand it no longer, so, getting 

 out of bed, he made his way into his garden, and, 

 gathering a bundle of nettles, beat his feet with 

 them as long as he could. He assured me that 

 he had never since then been similarly troubled. 

 It is, of course, perfectly possible that by this 



