562 FIELD AND GARDEN PRODUCTS 



escaped from gardens in this country. The entire plant has a 

 whitish, woolly appearance, caused by the dense covering of hairs. 

 It is a perennial plant, and as will be seen from the characteristic 

 lip-shaped flowers, is a member of the mint family (Menthaceae). 

 The whole plant has a rather pleasant, balsamic odor. It is a 

 bushy, branching herb, with fibrous roots sending up numerous 

 woolly stems about 1 to 3 feet high, rounded below and four-angled 

 above. The leaves are opposite each other. The leaves and tops 

 are used in medicine. These should be gathered just before the 

 herb is in flower, rejecting the coarse stalks, and should be dried in 

 the shade in the usual manner. The balsamic odor diminishes in 

 drying. The herd has a bitter, persistent taste. Horehound is well 

 known as a remedy for colds, and is also used in dyspepsia and for 

 expelling worms. A considerable quantity of marrubium or hore- 

 hound is imported, about 125,00 pounds coming into this country 

 annually. Three to 8 cents is the price paid per pound. 



Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus). Holy thistle, bitter this- 

 tle, Our Lady's thistle, St. Benedict's thistle, cursed thistle, spotted 

 thistle. This weed has been introduced from Europe and occurs in 

 stony, uncultivated localities and waste places in the Southern States 

 and in California and Utah. It is an annual plant belonging to 

 the aster family (Asteracese) . The round stems are erect, about 1 

 to 2 feet high, branched, and rather woolly. The leaves are more 

 or less hairy. The leaves and tops should be collected when the 

 plant is in flower, about June, thoroughly and quickly dried, and 

 kept in a vessel from which moisture, light, and air should be ex- 

 cluded. They have a somewhat disagreeable odor and the taste is 

 very bitter. Blessed thistle is employed in fevers, dyspepsia, and as 

 a tonic to restore the appetite. This plant is cultivated in Germany, 

 from which country it is imported to a limited extent. The price 

 per pound ranges from 8 to 10 cents. 



Yarrow (Achillea millefolium). Milfoil, thousand leaf, 

 thousand-leaved clover, green arrow, gordoloba, nose-bleed, blood- 

 wort, carpenter's grass, sanguinary, soldiers' woundwort, old man's 

 pepper. This herb is a common weed from the New England 

 States to Missouri and in scattered localities in other parts of the 

 country, occurring along roadsides, in old fields, pastures, and 

 meadows. Yarrow is a perennial belonging to the aster family 

 (Asteracese,} . It is about 10 to 20 inches in height, its numerous 

 dark-green feathery leaves divided into very fine crowded parts. 



The odor of yarrow is strong and aromatic, very similar to that 

 of chamomile, and the taste is sharp and bitter. When this plant 

 is eaten by cows its bitter taste and strong odor are imparted to 

 dairy products. The entire plant is collected when in flower, and 

 is carefully dried. The coarser stems should be rejected. The 

 plant loses nearly four-fifths of its weight in drying. Yarrow is a 

 stimulant tonic, acts upon the bladder, and checks excessive dis- 

 charges. This is an imported article, though not brought into the 

 United States in large quantities. The price of achillea, or yarrow, 

 ranges from 2 to 5 cents per poun<V 



