COWSLIP. 223 



The fairy's description of the cowslip must not be omitted. 

 When talking of her queen, she says : — 



" The cowslips tall her pensioners be, 



In their gold coats spots you see, 

 . These be rubies, fairy favours." 



The " dainty Ariel " sings : — 



" Where the bee sucks there suck I, 

 In a cowslip's bell I he, 

 There I couch when owls do cry." 



The other indigenous species of the genus are the Common 

 Primrose (Primula vulgaris), the Bird's-eye Primrose (Primula 

 farinosa), a beautiful plant with light purple flowers gemmed 

 with a yellow eye, and leaves sprinkled with a fine powdery 

 substance, having a musky scent : it is almost confined to the 

 mountainous pastures of the north of England. The Scottish 

 Primrose (Primula Scotica) vying in beauty with the last species, 

 and flowering in July on the sandy shores of the Orkney Islands, 

 the north coast of Sutherland and Caithness. P. Auricula, a 

 native of the Alpine regions of Italy and Switzerland, is a well- 

 known favourite of the florist. 



The Oxlip* (Primula elatior) is thought to be a hybrid be- 

 tween the Cowslip and the Primrose, but is much less common 

 than either : it is distinguished by its more vigorous growth, and 

 inodorous pale yellow flowers, — the tube of the corolla much 

 longer than the calyx, and the limb flat. Professor Henslow 

 has seen the Primrose, Cowslip, and Oxlip produced from the 

 same root. 



Qualities and general Uses. — The flowers which are very 

 sweet and fragrant are often used to make wine, which is 

 flavoured like muscadel, and is very sparkling and pleasant, but 

 considered somniferous. The leaves have been used as salad 

 and pot-herbs, and, in the absence of mulberry-leaves, are very 

 useful for feeding silk-worms. In some countries an infusion 

 of the flowers is fermented with sugar or honey, and the juice of 

 lemons, and an acidulous vinous liquor is thus prepared, — a very 

 grateful summer beverage. The roots are also put into casks 

 of wine or beer to impart additional strength and flavour to 

 those liquids. 



The root in its recent state exhales a fragrant odour, resem- 



* " Bold oxlips," says Perdita to Camillo in the " Winter's Tale." 



