138 buist's family kitchen gardener. 



however, it makes a grateful dilutent drink in fevers, and in 

 this way it is commonly used either by itself or acidulated 

 with lemons. 



BLESSED THISTLE. 



Centaurea henedida. — Centauree Siidorijique, Fr. — Cardo 

 benediden, Grer. 



A NATIVE of the south of France, Spain, ana the Levant. It 

 is annual, and propagated from seed sown in Autumn. This 

 plant has obtained the name of Benedictus, or Blessed, from 

 its supposed extraordinar}'' medicinal qualities. It has an in- 

 tensely bitter taste and disagreeable smell. It was formerly 

 employed to assist the operation of emetics ; but the flowers 

 of Chamomile are now substituted for it with equal advantage. 

 It was also thought, when taken internally, to be peculiarly 

 efficacious in malignant fevers. In loss of appetite, where the 

 stomach has been injured by irregularities, its good effects 

 have been frequently experienced. It has now lost much of 

 its reputation, and does not seem to be essentially different 

 from other simple bitters. 



BORAGE. 



B or ago ojicindlis. — B our r ache, Fr. — Borragen, G-er. 



This herb is said to have originated from Aleppo, but is 

 now naturalized in many parts of Europe. It is a hardy an- 

 nual, and easily cultivated, from sowing the seeds in April, 

 which come up without any care. Borage is cultivated in our 

 gardens on account of the supposed cordial virtues of its flow- 

 ers, but they have long lost their reputation. In Italy its 

 young and tender leaves are in common use, both as a pot-herb 

 and a salad. In France its flowers, with those of Nasturtium. 



