66 ILLICIUM FLORIDANUM. 



render them so easy to weave, and which explains how the 

 textures made from them irritate or scratch the skin. 



HENRIETTA. 



That is the reason, I suppose, that so many persons do not 

 like wearing calico, and that it is never used for dressing 

 wounds'? 



MRS. F. 



Precisely so. In the vegetable, as well as in the animal 

 kingdom, we find that those hairs which, when seen by the 

 microscope, appeared to be toothed, are alone capable of felt- 

 ing.* Here is the species which furnishes the Nankeen 

 cotton; \ and this is the common species. 



ESTHER. 



Pray, Mrs. Clifford, what is this pretty star-shaped crimson 

 flower? 



MRS. c. 



Illicium floridanum. Another species of the same genus, 

 Illicium anisatum, is a plant much used by the Chinese. Its 

 smell is sweet and aromatic; its taste a little bitter. They 

 employ it to burn in their temples, and the Europeans use it 

 to flavor several of their liqueurs among others the cele- 

 brated Anisette de Bordeaux. 



HENRIETTA. 



And what is Maraschino flavored with? 



MRS. F. 



"With a small black cherry, which is generally denominated 

 in England, among the gardeners, the Guisnes cherry, they 

 having been probably imported from thence. By the country 

 people, they are often termed merries, which last name is a 

 corruption of their French appellation, merises. 



* De Candolle. t Gossipium religiosum. 



$ G. herbaceum. De Candolle. 



