1 2 HISTORY OF BRITISH IIOSSES. 



At one time the virtues of some of them as remedial 

 agents were much extolled by the medical faculty^ but, with 

 the progress of knowledge, these have not been found to 

 stand the test of experience, or others of more repute have 

 taken their place. The arts are but little indebted to 

 Mosses, for, with the exception of colouring matter got 

 from some species, they yield no material tliat has been 

 found of much service in this way"^'. 



With so many and varied appliances of art and ingenious 

 inventions to keep us comfortable in our easy chairs by day 

 and couches by niglit, we need scarcely refer to the luxuries 

 of the Laplander's bed of Folytrichum and Sphagnum moss, 

 which he prepares for himself or his infant charge, and 

 which are so well described bv Linnaeus in his 'Flora 

 Lapponica/ At times however the botanist, when be- 

 nighted among tlie hills, is glad to avail himself of some 

 such material whereon to rest his wearied limbs ; and those 

 who may propose to explore our Highland mountains in 

 search of Flora's treasures, would do well to be initiated 

 into the art of heather or moss bed-making, by those who 



* Our linen-manufacturers uiight, we are persuaded, avail tlionisclvcs of 

 the elegant forms of many flosses for designing; patterns, as has already been 

 done fi'om specimens of the more showy Ferns and Algse. 



