140 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 



and an aromatic tonic, and, like the tormentil in certain 

 parts of North Britain, a fair substitute for the hop. The 

 sneezewojt (A. ptarmicd) has somewhat the flavour of tar- 

 ragon, and may be used in place of it in a salad. When 

 dried and reduced to powder it is a cheap substitute for 

 snuff ; hence its familiar name. Finally, several species of 

 achillea, and possibly all, are in some degree applicable as 

 substitutes for tea. We have in our wanderings tasted 

 many curious kinds of tea, and can speak of two only out 

 of the number as in any way endurable, and even at that 

 undesirable. One was a brewing from a handful of new 

 hay, which a sweet old dame declared delicious to drink, 

 and a certain cure for all possible diseases. The other was 

 a decoction of green sneezewort, which was also declared 

 to be excellent in some way or other. It was endurable 

 to drink, and soon suggested that a judicious use of it 

 might serve one instead of a sea voyage, to promote one 

 of the more famous and supposedly-beneficial consequences 

 of a life on the ocean wave. 



