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grounds near Farmersville in Union parish. The root has a bitter, 

 aromatic and astringent taste, and is said to operate as a diuretic, 

 and hence its common name. 



The stimulant cnidoscolus or tread softly (cnidoscolus stimulosa) 

 is a plant peculiar to the Southern States. It grows to the height 

 of two feet on the banks of Bundick's creek in Calcasieu. It 

 .flourishes in sandy soil. It has palmately lobed leaves from four to 

 eight inches long. The segments are covered with spreading hair, 

 which sting fearfully the bare feet of the negroes when they tread 

 on them, from whence its common name is derived. It has whitish 

 ilowers, and it is said that its tuberous roots are eatable, like those 

 of the cassava or manihot. 



The ground nut (apios tuberosus) is an elegant climbing plant, 

 having lateral clusters of brownish purple sweet-scented flowers. 

 It grows luxuriantly in the low grounds near Mount Lebanon. It 

 would make an attractive, ornamental climber of the gardens. The 

 roots bear fleshy tubers, which are very nutritious, and might be 

 substituted for potatoes during years of scarcity. 



The horehound (marrubium vulgare) has been naturalized in 

 America, and is found on Bayou Rapides near dwelling houses and 

 stables and by the roadside. It has a strong, rather agreeable 

 odor, which is diminished by drying. It possesses tonic properties. 

 It is employed chiefly in domestic use, in catarrhal affections and 

 diseases of the lungs attended with cough and copious expectora- 

 tion. It is taken in the form of infusion. It is also a well known 

 ingredient of cough-candy. 



Common sage (salvia officinalis) grows spontaneously in the south 

 of Europe, and is cultivated in the gardens en account of its aro- 

 matic properties. The leaves have a strong, fragrant odor, and a 

 warm, bitterish, aromatic, somewhat astringent taste. They abound 

 in volatile oil, which may be obtained by distillation with water, and 

 contains a considerable proportion of camphor. Sage is slightly 

 tonic and astringent. It was highly esteemed by the ancients; it is, 

 however, at present but little used internally except as a condiment. 

 The infnsion is said to have been used in checking the sweats of 

 hectic fever. It is also employed with honey and vinegar as a gar- 

 gle in inflammation of the throat. 



Balm (melissa officinalis) is a native of the south of Europe. It 



