48 AsTER History 
Dorstenius adds of this mediaeval story that ‘it is not only zz- 
epium ac falsum, but also is contrary to all the authority of the 
ancients ;’”’ z. ¢., is unmentioned by them. 
Aster as a Remedy to Swine.—As Aster Atticus or Inguinaria 
was by some called Argemon, fide Pliny, it was liable to acquire 
the reputation of healing swine which came with that name from 
the Greeks, Pliny saying of Argemon that the one digging its 
medicinal root must do so without use of iron and with use of the 
formula, “This is the plant Argemon, which Minerva discov- 
ered, which she found a remedy for swine, for all such as should 
taste of it.”—Pliny, bk. 24, c. 19. See infra, under Argemon and 
under Piiny. 
Aster a Remedy to Bees—[As the gth, last and most fully de 
scribed of the remedies for languishing bees ; following ga/banum]. 
Boil its roots in odorous wine, and place it as food in full baskets 
in the doorways of the hives. 
Hujus odorato radices incoque Baccho, 
Pabulaque in foribus plenis adpone canistris.— 
Best of remedies for this flux among the bees is the root of 
Amellus ; boiled with old Aminean wine, the roots are to be pressed 
out, and the liquor thus weighed out is to be given to the bees.— 
Columella, 
Aster a source of Floney to Bees—“ The wild flowers most 
friendly of all to the bees are the Amellus, acanthus, etc.—Col- 
umella. Amellus, 7. ¢., Aster, thus heads this list, afterwards quali- 
fied by making three classes of wild flowers frequented by bees, 
thyme being the only member of the first class, Amellus, acanthus, 
asphodel and narcissus forming the second, armoracia and “ innu- 
merable others” making the third, the third class being particu- 
larly a source of wax. - 
Apes susurro murmurant gratae leni 
Cum summo florum vel novos rores legunt. 
murmur pleasingly their light susurrus, 
Culling from topmost flowers or latest dewdrop. 
—Vergilius, hortulus. 
ASTER Usep IN DyEING 
Flos tinctorius primus, tinctoribus Spirensibus Schartenkraut 
dicitur, Bock. 
—/. e., by the dyers at Speier it is called Groinplant, 
