MARIGOLD. 329 



Gerard describes several species and va- 

 rieties of marigolds that were grown in our 

 gardens previously to 1597 ; and the species 

 now alluded to, Calendula sativa, he says, 

 was so much used in Holland, that " the 

 yellow leaves of the flowers are dried and 

 kept throughout Dutchland against winter, to 

 put into broths, in phisicall potions, and for 

 diuers other purposes, in such quantities, that 

 in some grocers or sellers of spices houses 

 are to be found barrels filled with them, and 

 retailed by the pennie, more or lesse, in so 

 much that no broths are well made without 

 dried marigolds." 



Most of the old physicians recommend the 

 conserves made with the leaves of this flower 

 and sugar, to be taken as a preventive against 

 the plague or other pestilential diseases. 

 They also state that these preparations cure 

 the palpitation of the heart. Marigold tea 

 was one of the domestic medicines given in 

 agues, and often with success. We cannot 

 avoid noticing how much less frequent this 

 disorder has become within these last twenty- 

 five years ; and we attribute it principally to 

 the improved state of the cultivation of our 

 lands. The rapid advance in price of every 

 agricultural production at the commencement 



