COWSLIP. BUCK-BEAN. 43 
Alkanet imparts a fine deep red colour to all unctuous 
substances, and to spirits of wine ; but it tinges water 
with a dull, brownish hue. Its chief use is for the colour- 
ing of oils, plasters, lip-salve, and other similar arti- 
cles. It is likewise employed in compositions for 
rubbing, and giving colour to mahogany furniture. 
Wax tinged with alkanet, and applied to the surface of 
warm marble, stains it flesh colour, and sinks deep into 
the stone. 
58. The COWSLIP is a plant (Primula veris) which 
grozvs in most meadows and pastures, and is too well known to 
require any description. 
The flowers of the cowslip, when picked and dried, 
are sometimes used as a balsamic tea. When boiled, 
with a certain proportion of water and sugar, and after- 
wards properly fermented, they may be made into a pe- 
culiarly pleasant wine. 
The roots have a fine odour ; and, when immersed in 
ale or beer, are said to add considerably to the strength 
of the liquor. The leaves are sometimes eaten as a 
pot-herb, and in salads ; and both the leaves and 
flowers are an excellent food for silk-worms. 
59. BUCK-BEAN, or BOG-BEAN (Menyanthes trifo- 
liata), is a common plant in shallow ponds; and is distin- 
guishable by its leaves growing in threes, and its pink and 
white Jlowers being shaggy on their inner surface. 
There is no British plant the flowers of which are 
more beautiful than those of buck-bean ; and nothing 
but the difficulty of propagating it in dry ground could 
prevent its having a place in every garden. The leaves 
are intensely bitter, and are occasionally used in the 
Highlands of Scotland as a tea, to strengthen the sto- 
mach. The inhabitants of some parts of Sweden em- 
ploy them in place of hops, to impart a bitter taste to 
ale; two ounces of them being considered equal in 
strength to a pound of hops. By some persons the 
leaves of buck-bean are smoked instead of tobacco ; 
and different preparations of this plant have been found 
