BIRCH. ]. NATURAL HISTORY. 38 
Carbuus is a manner herb or a weed with pricks. The 
kind thereof is biting and cruel. Therefore the juice 
thereof cureth the falling of the hair. The root thereof 
sod in water giveth appetite to drinkers, and is most 'profit- 
able to the mother, and therefore it is no wonder though 
women desire it. And in drawing up of carduus men’s 
fingers be oft grieved with pricks. 
Bartholomew (Berthelet), bk. xvii. § 36. 
Carvuus Benepicrus is diligently cherished in gardens 
in these Northern parts. [It is called] in English Blessed 
Thistle, but more commonly by the Latin name Carduus 
Benedictus. Blessed Thistle taken in meat or drink is good 
for the swimming and giddiness of the head, it strengtheneth 
memory and is a singular remedy against deafness. The 
juice of the said Carduus is singular good against all poison. 
Gerard’s “ Herbal,” s.v. See also Lupton’s “Notable 
Things,” bk. ii. § 84, and bk. iv. § 53. 
Bilberry. 
Where fires thou find’st unraked, and hearths unswept, 
There pinch the maids as blue as bilberry. 
Merry Wives or Winpsor, v. 5, 48-9. 
[Bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) are identified by Gerard with 
worts (V7. uliginosum) or whortleberries, and he says that the 
red worts have purple berries, and that the people of Cheshire 
do eat the black whortles in cream and milk (bk. iii. ch. Lxxiii.) 
—as is done in the West of England at this day.] 
Birch. 
As fond fathers, 
Having bound up the threatening twigs of birch, 
Only to stick it in their children’s sight 
For terror, not to use, in time the rod 
Becomes more mock’d than fear’d. 
Measure For Measure, i. 3, 23-7. 
In times past the Magistrates’ rods were made hereof ; 
and in our time also the schoolmasters and. parents do 
terrify their children with rods made of Birch. It serveth 
well to the decking up of houses, and banqueting rooms, 
for places of pleasure, and beautifying of streets in the 
cross or gang week, and such like. 
Gerara’s “Herbal,” bk. ili. ch. cxiv. 
