u All in ye Merrie Month of May ” 
which is not a specific against these ills. The Pasque- 
flower (Pulsatilla) is called Parsley Laughing in my old 
Herbal for this reason : It kills by making the Patient 
look laughing all the while, whence it obtained the 
name of “ Apium risum.” And yet, notwithstanding, the 
Standers-by may think the Patient is really a- Laughing or in 
a Laughing Humour, there is, indeed, no such thing. It 
only by its Poisonous qualities hurts the Senses and Under- 
standing, thereby causing Foolishness, and Convulsing the 
Nerves, especially of the Mouth, Jaws and Eyes, draws them 
this way and that way, and sometimes in a manner all 
ways, making the Sick seem to the bystanders as if he 
continually Laughed, and so the poor Patient dying in this 
condition, the lookers-on Think he dyes Laughing and so 
report it ; when at the same time there is no such matter, 
but he goes out of the World under the sense of violent 
Convulsions, vehement Pain, and the most extream Torment 
imaginable. But the chief use that is now made of these 
Flowers is for Ornament Sake, more than anything else, and 
to set off and Adorn a Garden, among such as are curious 
and delight in things of this Nature, they being very 
beautiful in their kind.” It is called Pasque-flower because 
it flowers at Easter. It is delicate, but has been grown 
successfully in this neighbourhood out of doors, so I think 
I must try, though I fear the river-frosts will not be good for 
it. Carrots are rather nice vegetables I think, their Leaves 
are so pretty, and when they are brown look so graceful 
mixed with green, in flower-vases on the dinner-table, 
mixed with Marigolds or Zinnias, or with Escholtzias. I 
am so fond of Escholtzias— the Californian Poppy as some 
people call them. But I prefer the golden variety to all 
others. The Saxon name for Carrots was Bird’s-nest, and 
I believe it is still a common German name, Vogelsnest. 
Bird’s-nest is a Scottish name of old standing for the Wild 
Carrot. Gerarde says the reason was that “ the whole tuft 
is drawn together when the seed is ripe, resembling a bird’s- 
nest, whereupon it hath been named of some Bird’s-nest. 
It was also called Bee’s-nest. He also says Carrots, more 
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