58 WILD FLOWERS. 



This food was a tolerably wholesome one, 

 and formed a far better substitute for corn thau 

 the diet to which many of the French peasantry 

 were reduced in 1817. At this season, the 

 heavy rains which fell over the greater part of 

 France, had, in some departments especially, 

 prevented the ripening of the corn, and it be- 

 came so dear as that the rich only covdd pvu'- 

 chase it. The poor were compelled to live on 

 wild sorrel, nettles, thistles, and even on the 

 boiled leaves of trees. This food sufficed to 

 preserve life ; but a large number of those who 

 lived on it, were afflicted both viith dropsy and 

 other complaints. During the disastrous cam- 

 paign of Napoleon's army at Moscow, the un- 

 fortunate soldiers boiled and ate the common 

 grass of the field, and delirium was the conse- 

 quence of this wretched food. 



Our wild bryony abounds Avith a fetid juice, 

 which is most abundant in its berries. These 

 may well be termed coral-berries, for they are 

 not clear like those of the nightshade, nor do they 

 glisten like them ; but they are perfectly round, 

 smooth, and unpolished, and of the most beau- 

 tiful red colour. NotAvithstanding their poison- 

 ous nature, they are eaten by birds ; and while 

 no other animal but the goat will feed on the 

 branches of the bryony, these are to him a de- 

 licious repast ; he will leave untouched all 

 other vegetables to feed on this. Several kinds 

 of brj'ony are much used in India, and other 

 countries, as medicines. 



