8o THE BOOK OF HERBS 



" for such we may say, a little doth but a little harm, 

 for angry Mars rules them, and he sometimes will be 

 rusty when he meets with fools." This is altogether a 

 dark saying, but it gives little encouragement to those 

 who would make trial of Rocket. 



London Rocket (^Sisymbrium Irio). 



This plant gained its name in a singular way. It is 

 said to have first appeared in London in the spring 

 following the Great Fire, " when young Rockets were 

 seen everywhere springing up among the ruins, where 

 they increased so marvellously that in the summer the 

 enormous crop crowding over the surface of London 

 created the greatest astonishment and wonder."^ 



Saffron {Crocus sativus). 



Nor Cyprus wild vine-flowers, nor that of Rhodes, 



Nor Roses oil from Naples, Capua, 

 Saffron confected in Cilicia. 



Nor that of Quinces, nor of Marjoram, 

 That ever from the Isle of Coos came, 

 Nor these, nor any else, though ne'er so rare 



Could with this place for sweetest smells compare. 



Br. Pastorals, Book I. 



Cloivn. I must have SaiTron to colour the Warden pies. 



IVinters Tale, iv. 2, 



You set Saflron and there came up Wolfs bane. (Saying to express 

 an action which has an unexpected result.) 



SaiFron has been of great importance since the earliest 

 days, and it is mentioned in a beautiful passage of the 

 Song of Solomon. "Thy plants are an orchard of 

 Pomegranates, with pleasant fruits, Camphire with 

 Spikenard, Spikenard and Saffron, Calamus and Cin- 

 namon, with all trees of Frankincense, Myrrh and Aloes, 

 with all the chief spices," iv. ig, 14. 



' Folkard. 



