JULY. 



9.8 



country it did not exist, regarded with sentiments little short of adoration. 

 On beholding it covered with its rich golden blossoms, he envied the country 

 which possessed such a floral treasure. 



I shall now endeavour to rescue from neglect a few of the common weeds, 

 and will give a short account of some of those with which my readers are most 

 familiar. 



What plant more common than the Dandelion ? What more despised r 

 Yet it supplies a valuable medicine, and has furnished the means of subsistence 

 to many of the human race. From it an extract is procured possessing diuretic 

 properties, which has been employed with success in relieving the sufferings of 

 humanity, more especially in dropsies and affections of the liver. When a 

 swarm of locusts had destroyed the harvest in the island of Minorca, many of 

 the inhabitants subsisted on this plant alone. The roots, when roasted, are to 

 this day used by the poor at Gdttingen as a substitute for coffee ; and tbe 

 young leaves, when blanched, are sometimes employed as a salad. 



Coltsfoot abounds as a weed on all roadsides, where it expands its blossoms 

 early in spring, before its leaves make their appearance. It has been remarked 

 of this plant that the flowers, when in bud, are pendulous, and become erect 

 when fully expanded ; that they afterwards fade and droop till the seeds become 

 ripe, when they again rise in order that the seeds may be more readily wafted 

 by the wind to situations proper for their growth. The down on the leaves 

 of the plant forms 'good tinder, and the leaves themselves are employed in 

 coughs and asthmatic complaints. 



The Burdock, well known by its bristly heads which adhere to the clothes, 

 and which are often thrown into the air by boys for the purpose of catching 

 bats, has also its medicinal and domestic uses. The young stems, when 

 stripped of their rind, are boiled and eaten like Asparagus, and in a raw state 

 they are prepared with oil and vinegar as a salad. A decoction of the roots 

 is used as a substitute for sarsaparilla, to act as a tonic and cause gentle per- 

 spiration. The heads of a similar plant have of late been put to use in the 

 manufacture of cloth, being employed as Teazles in raising the nap to the 

 surface, which it is said no artificial contrivance could do nearly so well. 

 Thus, in some districts, from being a despised weed this humble plant has 

 become one of the most precious vegetable productions. 



Kinnahaird. Robert Murray, F.R.H.S. 



(To be continued.) 



GRAPES ALL THE YEAR ROUND. 

 The excellent article by Mr. Hill on growing Grapes all the year round 

 will be of much benefit to intending planters, in aiding them to select the best 

 kinds for early and late vineries. As I have planted within the last three 

 years nine vineries for the same purpose and rotation, and as my selection of 

 sorts for the earliest-houses differs in a few of the varieties from Mr. Hill's, 

 perhaps their names may be useful to tbe readers of the Florist and 

 Pomologist. In No. 1, in the earliest vinery, in addition to Black Hamburgh, 

 I have planted Purple- Constantia, and for a White Grape, Chasselas Musque' 

 The Purple Constantia is a very early Grape, and to those who like highiy- 

 perfumed-flavoured Grapes, it is the best grown. The Chasselas Musque is a 

 well-known highly-flavoured early Grape, but it often cracks when colouring, 

 which makes the bunches defective. With me in this house it never does so 

 as its roots are under control, and water withheld during the ripening process. 

 In No. 2 the Vines are principally Hamburghs, with the addition of Buckland 



