THE FOXGLOVE. 67 



bare reality, and giving to fancy and imagination room 

 to expand, a plaything to amuse them. 



We still retain the name of this plant as given by 

 Pliny, though we know no reason why it was so called ; 

 but the word " helix," winding about, or twisting, is 

 sufficiently apposite. 



The foxglove (digitalis purpurea) is found with us in 

 one or two places only, rather existing than flourishing, 

 manifesting, like many other plants, a marked partiality 

 to particular soils. It produces an abundance of seed, 

 yet seems to wander little from the station its progeni- 

 tors had fixed on, as if that alone was congenial to its 

 habits ; but with us the soil varies greatly. In the West 

 of England, it thrives and increases with particular 

 luxuriance; but many counties may be searched in vain 

 for a single specimen. It seems to prefer a sandy, 

 gravelly, or loose drained soil ; not I think vegetating 

 in strong retentive earths. We have few indigenous 

 plants, not one, perhaps, which we have so often sum- 

 moned to aid us in our distresses as the foxglove : no 

 plant, not even the colchicum, has been more the object 

 of our fears, our hopes, our trust, and disappointment, 

 than this : we have been grateful for the relief it has 

 afforded, and we have mourned the insufficiency of its 

 powers ; 



- " Thy last, sole aid (which art can give) 



The wo-worn parent seeks, and, hoping, clings 

 In tearless wretchedness to thee ; watches with 

 Anxious heart thy subtle progress through the 

 Day, and of thee fitful dreams through all the 

 Night 



spare, if thou 



Canst, his hopeless grief; save worth, save beauty, 

 From an early grave." 



As a mere flower, the digitalis is a very handsome 

 plant ; and could we rely upon its yielding the virtues 

 it is considered to possess, or could we regulate or con- 

 trol its influence, it would exist unrivalled for beauty 

 and worth amidst our island plants. Why such a name 

 as " foxesgloves," was bestowed upon this plant it is 

 difficult to say, perhaps from the bare resemblance to 



