THE HAIRY ST. JOHN'S WORT 



HYPERICUM HIRSUTUM 



ONCE upon a time the St. John's Wort was a 

 name to conjure with. It was " a plant of 

 power," and " under the celestial sign Leo and 

 the dominion of the Sun. It may be," continues 



^ M, f f f -y 9 



a b v c cL e 



a, sepals, b, petals, d, stamens, d, ovary with styles, e, fruit. 



the old physician* scornfully, " if you meet a Papist 

 he wiU tell you, especially if he be a lawyer, that 

 St. John made it over to him by a letter of attorney." 

 An57way, within it rested most mystic powers 

 which were invoked on that midsummer night of 

 magic, June 23. On that Eve of St. John the wise 



* Culpepper. 

 139 



