THE POTENTIALITIES OF PURSLANE 31 



number of diseases, and was particularly recom- 

 mended in case of ' blastings by lightning, or 

 planets, or gunpowder.' Did such things com- 

 monly happen ? Truth to tell, there is something 

 cooling about the succulent stalks. Many think 

 the Purslanes very homely - looking, but they 

 have their good points, one of which is the rich red 

 colour of the stems. A bit of red among the 

 many grey-green leaves of the Herb-border is 

 always telling. 



