60 FLOWERS AND FRUITS. 



cilaginous plants, slightly astringent, and used pretty much in 

 coughs and colds. Several of them are very showy, and cultiva- 

 ted for the fragrance of their flowers. 



It is an annual plant abounding with juice, one or two feet high, 

 and covered with down or fur in great quantities. It came origi- 

 nally from Britain, where it is now held in high estimation, being 

 used in great quantities to make a grateful summer beverage 

 known by the name of cool tankard. In France it has attained 

 great celebrity. An infusion of the flowers and leaves sweetened 

 with honey, forms a syrup that is much used in inflamatory fevers 

 and affections of a similar character. It is not, however, very 

 powerful in its mode of operation, which can be easily judged 

 from the fact that its expressed juice has been given frequently 

 in as much as four ounces at a time. A poultice of the flowers 

 has been used as an emollient. The distilled water and extract 

 that was formerly prepared from it, being found to contain nothing 

 but the properties of common wood, have fallen into disuse. The 

 stem and leaves containing considerable quantities of nitrate of 

 potassa, gives it a rather cooling property. 



It is very common in the United States, and can he seen in almost 

 every garden, cultivated however, merely for the beauty of its 

 flowers. The plant grows somewhat higher than in the old coun- 

 tries, and is rather more hairy. In July its blossoms adorn the 

 garden ; its corolla is shaped like a wheel, of a light and beautiful 

 blue color, having its throat closed with fine small protuberances ; 

 the stamens are attached to the base of the corolla, which we are 

 directed to take ofF very carefully to see the little scales that .choke 

 up its throat, and the manner the stamens adhere to it. Its bright 

 blue stars have procured for it the emblem of Talent. 



