68 THE BOOK OF HERBS 



was once apparently eaten as a pot-herb, and found 

 to be an inferior one. It has been put to other uses, 

 for Hogg says that the stalks contain a fibre, " from 

 which a good strong cloth has been manufactured, and 

 in the year 182 1 about 280 acres of land near Flint in 

 Wales were planted with the Common Holyhock, with 

 the view of converting the fibre to the same uses as 

 hemp or flax." It was also discovered in the process 

 of manufacture, that the plant " yields a blue dye, equal 

 in beauty and permanence to that of the best indigo." 

 This experiment however successful in results, cannot 

 have been justified from a commercial point of view, 

 and was not often repeated, and there is now no trace of 

 its having been ever tried. 



In other languages, the Hollyhock has very pretty 

 names ; " in low Dutch, it was called Winter Rosen, and in 

 French, Rose d'outremer." 



Marigold {Calendula Officinalis'). 



Hark ! hark 1 the lark at heaven's gate sings 



And Phoebus 'gins to rise, 



His steeds to water at those springs 



On chalic'd flowers that lies ; 



And winking Mary-buds begin 



To ope their golden eyes, 



Cymbeitne^ ii. 3. 



The marigold that goes to bed wi' the sun, 

 And with him rises weeping. 



Winter^ TaU^ iv. 3. 



The purple Violets and Marigolds 

 Shall, as a carpet, hang upon thy grave 

 While summer days do last. 



Fericles, iv. 1 



Marigolds on death-beds blowing. 



T1V0 Noble Kinsmen. Introd. Song. 



The Marigold observes the sun, 

 More than my subjects me have done. 



