106 OUR ROCK-GARDEN 



may read the use of them." It is evident that a 

 theory of this kind affords a noble opportunity for 

 the play of the imagination. The foxglove derived 

 its older name, the throatwort, from a belief that 

 the spotted interiors of its tubular flowers indicated 

 its use in ulcerated sore throat. The curling spiral 

 form made by the buds of the forget-me-not was 

 supposed to be suggestive of the tail of a scorpion, 

 and in all the old herbals it is called the scorpion- 

 grass and regarded as a potent preservative against 

 the assaults of these creatures. The tormentil, 

 from the red colour of its root, was called the blood- 

 root, and was therefore employed to relieve severe 

 bleeding a service to which the crimson leaves 

 of the herb Robert were also put. These must 

 indeed have been the ages of strong faith, and of 

 powerful determination not to allow untoward facts 

 to disturb belief. It seems strange that such a 

 theory could have held its ground a week when 

 brought to the test of practical experience. 



The dusky crane's-bill, or Geranium phczum, is 

 a very welcome addition to our rock-garden, as 

 its curiously coloured large flowers are very notice- 

 able, their dull, chocolate-red tint 1 being so unusual. 

 A quaint local name for it is the mourning widow. 

 The plant, too, stands boldly erect and flowers 



1 It is in France the Geranium brun, while the German 

 name is even more precise the Rothbrauner Kranichsch- 

 nabel. 



