148 -WILD FLOWERS. 



parts of Kent it is commonly gathered in 

 bundles and hung up around the ample fire- 

 place of the farm kitchen, or suspended from 

 the cottage ceiling ready for use. The whole 

 plant gives a yellow colour to wool, and the 

 root is extremely hitter. 



The hedge wound-wort {Stachys sylvaticd) 

 is also very common in the hedge from June 

 till August. It has around its stem a number 

 of purplish red flowers streaked with white, 

 and leaves something like those of the stinging 

 nettle in shape, but very silky and downy. Its 

 old fiimiliar name distinguishes it as a plant 

 often used for staying the effusion of blood. 

 This flower was also called clown' s-all-heal. 

 When compounds and extracts from plants and 

 minerals were less common than at present, an 

 acquaintance with the virtues of plants was ot 

 more value than in modern days. 



The common black horehound, (Ballota 

 nigra,) with its whorls of dull, cheerless red 

 flowers, and its dusty-looking foliage, was once 

 thought a very useful plant, and is still some- 

 times made into a candied sweetmeat. Country 

 people say, that the plant has an odour of 

 graves, but its frequent growth in churchyards 

 probably contributed to this idea. The catmint 

 {Nepeta cataria) is another common plant, and 

 it is really amusing to see how cats are excited 

 by it, and with what avidity they devour it. 

 Its scent is too strong to be agreeable. 



The numerous tribe of mints (Mentha) all 

 flower, either in this, or the following month. 



