and female catkins being sometimes on the same 
plant, and sometimes on distinct plants. They are 
formed in the course of the summer’s growth, and 
remain undeveloped during the winter. “They are 
fully formed in March, expand in April, after which 
the leaves come forth, and in August or September 
the branches are laden with ripe fruit, whose scent 
is very agreeable, not unlike that of red cedar. 
This odour resides in the shining resinous par- 
ticles, scattered over the berry, which easily rubs 
off, and is very durable, even in dried specimens, 
though it assumes, with age, the flavour of can- 
died citron peel.” On this account, branches of it 
are laid amongst clothes, to give them a fine scent, 
and to drive away moths. 
This plant has a bitter taste, and in northern 
countries was used in brewing as we now use hops. 
The berries, too, had their use in this way, as re- 
ported by Gerard, who says “the fruit is trouble- 
some to the braine ; being put into beere or aile, 
whilest it is boiling (which many vse to do) it mak- 
eth it heady, fit to make a man quickly drunke.” 
The Rev. J. Evans, in his “Tour through Wales,” 
mentions its being abundant in some places, and 
observes, “It is a little extraordinary that this plant, 
certainly possessed of powerful qualities, should 
find no admission into our Materia Medica. The 
poor inhabitants of Merionethshire are not inat- 
tentive to its virtues ; they term it Bwrli, or the 
emetic plant, and use it for this purpose. An in- 
fusion of the leaves as tea, and an external appli- 
cation of them to the abdomen, are considered as 
a certain and efficacious vermifuge.” 
