46 OUE ROCK-GARDEN 



would make theyr Gardens theyr Physitions the 

 physicions craft wold soone decay." 



Whatever we may think of the value of the 

 following prescription, which we extract from " The 

 Family Dictionary and Household Companion " of 

 William Salmon a book published in 1696 it at 

 least serves to illustrate our point, that our fore- 

 fathers possessed a more extensive knowledge of 

 our common plants, or were at all events credited 

 with it, than some of their descendants. How 

 few good housewives now possess the necessary 

 knowledge to accurately make up the following 

 " Water for the Plague"! "Take of Celandine 

 Rosemary, Bawm, Mugwort, Pimpernel, Scabius, 

 Agrimony, Bettony, Angelica, Pellitory, Carduus, 

 Marigold leaves and flowers, Borrage leaves and 

 flowers, Featherfew, red Sage, Setwall, Thyme, and 

 Tormentil, of each a good handful, with a few 

 sprigs of Rue and Walnut leaves." These numerous 

 ingredients were all to be well bruised and then 

 steeped for three days in white wine. Ten spoonsful 

 of this, after warming it, were to be taken at a time. 

 If this brew produced nausea, as would be only too 

 probable, the abundant consolation was that " it is 

 a sign it has taken the better effect." If you could 

 take it it was a very good thing, but if not then it 

 was still better. 



In another portion of our garden we may find 

 the flowers of the butterbur. These, like those of 



