SAFFRON AND HEART TROUBLES 



95 



canary-birds, how many a pinch of saffron — most 

 fascinating to play with — would be begged for, to 

 put in their drinking-water ! We were confident 

 it would not only improve the colour of their 

 feathers, but would also give our dickies vigour 

 and strength while moulting. The dye is such a 

 lovely rich shade, and colours the water at once. 

 It will dye the hair, too, magnificently. King 

 Henry the Eighth forbade its use for this purpose. 

 In Ireland women sometimes wash their sheets in 

 Saffron- water, thinking to strengthen their hmbs. 



Nobody has ever praised Saffron more warmly 

 than Sir Francis Bacon. * Saffron conveys medicine 

 to the heart,' he said, ' cures its palpitation, 

 removes melancholy and uneasiness, revives the 

 brain, renders the mind cheerful, and generates 

 boldness.' Another remark of his was that ' What 

 made the English people sprightly was the liberal 

 use of Saffron in their broths and sv/eetmeats.' 



Colchicum autumnale grows wild in English 

 meadows, particularly in the Midlands. It is 

 rather a pity that it should be commonly called 

 Meadow Saffron, for, in spite of its name, it really 

 has nothing to do with Saffron, and this is apt to 

 be confusing. Nor is it a Crocus, though it looks 

 like one ; botanically speaking, it is a Lily. Some- 



