Midsummer to Michaelmas 
when the late ill-fated Empress of Austria arrived at the 
Swiss hotel she stopped at just before she was murdered, 
she found the hotel-keeper had decorated the rooms pre- 
pared for her with Asters. She thanked him for the 
attention with her accustomed grace, but made the remark 
afterwards to her attendants that the flowers were todten- 
blumen , such as the Austrians laid on tombs. And after the 
poor lady’s sad death these very flowers were used to deck 
her lying in state ! Boy and I saw a splendid grey Heron 
flying over the Cornfield to-day; his long legs looked so 
funny stretched out behind him ! It is said to be unlucky 
to see a Heron flying. He was probably going to fish in the 
river. How strange it is these shy birds are so often to be 
seen fishing peacefully, quite close to railways ! I saw one 
the other day standing on one leg, as the Indian proverb 
says, “ looking like a saint ” wrapt in meditation. 
July 24. — The Chestnut-leaves are beginning to turn 
yellow and litter the avenue. I was very busy to-day getting 
Linden-flowers, to dry for use in winter. They are delicious 
dried, and used as a tea when one has a cold. It is used 
in Germany, and called Flieder Thee. The air was full of 
their sweet drowsy smell and the Bees were humming in 
the treetops. In France it is a favourite remedy for colds, 
as Tisane de Tilleul , but does not seem to be known here. 
Barry Cornwall’s song of the Linden-tree is charming. 
There are plenty of Lindens hereabouts, but no use 
seems to be made of them. I quite grieved the other day 
to see a beautiful avenue of young Lindens in full flower 
going to waste. There is a French drink, called the Tisane 
de Sept Fleurs , often prescribed by French doctors for cold 
and sleeplessness. 
Bouillon blanc, 
Tilleul, 
Violette, 
Coquelicot, 
Pied de Chat, 
Guimauve, 
Mauve, 
Mullein. 
Lime. 
Violet. 
Poppy. 
Tussilago. 
Mallow. 
Another sort of Mallow. 
In Roumania, Lime-trees are sometimes planted in front 
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