LADIAIVE. 27 



In Franco a decoction of the plant liiis been used to cure the itcli and some other Bkin 

 disorders. Liiina>us rccomnieuds it for curing hcadnclio and the effects of intoxi- 

 cation. It is very probable that to the presence of this licrb, as well n.s others of an 

 aromatic kind, the superior flavour of the flesh of sheep fed upon downs and nioor- 

 land.s where they grow is attributable ; for, although some writers assert that these 

 animals never feed on them, it is undeniable that, wherever the thyme and marjoram 

 grow in the thick short grass, they are cropped as close as the rest of the herbage. 

 Bees delight in thyme ; and those who keep these interesting little creatures do well 

 to have a bed of thyme planted near their hives : 



" Here their delicious task the fervent bees 

 In swarming millions tend ; around, athwart, 

 Thro' the soft air the busy nations fly, 

 Cling to the bud, and with inserted tube 

 Suck its pure essence, its ethereal soul. 



And soaring dare 



The purple heath, or where the wild thyme grow.s, 

 And yellow load them with the luscious spoil." 



We agree thoroughly with the amiable Shenstone, who 



" Cultur'd his thyme for the bees. 

 But never would rifle their cell." 



At the present day the numerous inventions to divide the honey fairly between tlio 

 bees and their owners renders all piracy or cruelty quite unnecessary. 



PSub-Species II.— Thymus Chamsedrys. Fries. 



Plate IiIXLIV. 



BiUot, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 827. 



Fries, Nov. Fl. Suec. ed. ii. p. 197. 



T. Serpyllum, var. /3, Hook. & Am. Brit. Fl. p. 326. 



T. Serpyllum, var. a, Chamsedrys. Koch, Syn. Fl. Germ, et Hclv. ed. if. p. C-tl. 



Stems vdry, ascending, not rooting (or rooting only at the base), 

 slightly branched, with the barren shoots all lateral, short, not rooting; 

 stem of the preceding year not continued as a barren shoot or dying 

 off. Lea\es oval or elliptical-oval or oblong-elliptical, generally rather 

 abruptly contracted into the petiole. Flowering shoots lateral and 

 terminal, the stem of the preceding year growing out into a flowering 

 shoot. Flowers subcapitate, generally with several separate whorls 

 beneath the terminal head. Stem usually pubescent in 2 or 4 strips- 



On gravelly heaths, pastures, and chalky banks. Probably common, 

 and certainly widely distributed. This is the only thyme I have been 

 able to meet with in the vicinity of London, where it is veiy abundant 

 on all the surrounding connnons and chalk hills. lu Scotland it is 

 much less abundant than T. cu-Scrpyllum, though I have gathered it 

 as far north as Orkney. The authors of the " Cybelc Hibernica " state 



E 2 



