56 SomE LocaL PLanrts. 
Instead of being rounded at the point, it is sharp or thorn- 
like in form. This plant is fragrant in the roots, stems, and 
leaves, and on that account was largely used in abbeys and 
monasteries by the religious fraternities of olden times. It 
also supplied the ‘‘ rushes ’’ with which the floors of well-to- 
do people were strewn; and it is recorded that Cardinal 
ce 
Wolsey was brought to book on a charge of extravagance 
for having had his floors covered too frequently with them, 
as they had to be brought all the way from Norfolk and 
Suffolk to London. 
The Common Soap-wort (Saponaria officinalis), which 
belongs to an extensive and well-marked order of herbaceous 
plants, may be found in flower during August and September 
near Holywood Church. It is a robust grower, often reach- 
ing four feet in height, has broad, pointed, smooth leaves, 
and corymbs of handsome pink flowers. It is nearly related 
to the Greater Stitch-wort (Stellaria holostea), which has 
snow-white petals and leaves of delicate green. Not only 
was it used for hygienic purposes before the manufacture of 
soap, but was, and still is, known as an assuager of pain. — 
The Hop, a beautiful climbing plant, is to be found at 
the edge of a disused mill-race at Turnfine, in the parish of 
Troqueer, where formerly there was a meal mill. It con- 
stitutes the genus Humulus, is specially described as 
Humulus lupulus, and was introduced into our country from 
Flanders in 1524. As its name implies, it grows only in rich 
soil, and is cultivated for the sake of its catkins, which con- 
tain a bitter principle that imparts an agreeable flavour to 
beer. There is a very large number of varieties made use 
of for this purpose, each variety thriving best on its own 
particular soil. The Hop belongs to the same natural order 
as the Common Nettle and Pellitory-of-the-Wall—the last- 
mentioned being well known in rural districts for its medi- 
cinal properties. It is a hypnotic, but has not the injurious 
effects of the opium plant. The flowers are numerous and 
of a greenish colour, and its fruit is strobile, like that of the 
pines. 
A short distance westward from Turnfine is a marsh 
where the water was formerly stored to drive the mill. In 
