132 



THE HERB-GARDEN 



have only to drive them into a field full of 

 Dandelions. 



It was also satisfactory to hear that two large 

 wholesale firms in London deal in Herbs for 

 Simples, such as are in use in the rural parts of 

 Northern and Mid-England, and are doing a good 

 trade. 



The grandmother of our own gardener was a 

 Herb-woman, and used to perambulate the towns 

 and villages of Norfolk selling her simples. Much 

 of her knowledge is remembered and passed on to 

 the present generation. Would we consent to it, 

 most of our common ailments might be cured for 

 us by weeds or wildlings from our own fields and 

 garden. Meadow Crowfoot is offered for an in- 

 flamed eye ; House-Leeks from the roofs cure scalds 

 and heal sore places : they were planted there for 

 that very purpose more than sixty years ago, when 

 many a fretful infant found the benefit of their 

 juices, mixed with cream and applied to relieve 

 the discomforts of vaccination. Syrup made from 

 flowers of the Red Clover is a fine remedy in 

 whooping-cough ; Cabbage-leaves, put on hot, are 

 prescribed to wrap outside sore throats ; leaves of 

 Yarrow will cure headaches or stop nose-bleeding ; 

 the juice of any sort of Buglos is softening in chest 



