NATURAL HISTORY OF NEW ZEALAND. 
63 
Agrimonia eupatoria .—Agrimony has been chiefly regarded as a medicinal 
plant, and as such is often raised in gardens. The leaves have a slightly bitterish, 
roughish taste, accompanied with an agreeable, though weak, aromatic flavour. 
The flowers are in smell stronger, and more agreeable, than the leaves, and in 
taste somewhat weaker. They readily give out their virtues both to water and 
rectified spirit. The leaves impart to the former a greenish yellow, to the latter 
a deep green colour. The Canadians are said to use an infusion of the root of 
Agrimony in burning fevers with great success; and an infusion of six ounces of 
the crown of the root, in a quart of boiling water, sweetened with honey, and 
half a pint of it three times a day, Dr. Hill says, is an effectual cure for the 
jaundice. Infusions of the leaves, which are not disagreeable, may be used as 
tea. Digested in whey, it affords a useful diet-drink, for the spring season, not 
ungrateful to the palate or stomach. According to the observations of Linn^us 
Sheep or Goats eat it; Cows, Horses, and Swine refuse it. The flowers when 
fresh gathered smell like Apricots. 
Agrostemma .—From <xy%os, a field, and a-rs^x, a coronet; quasi the garland of 
the fields, the flowers proving a great ornament. 
Agrostemma githago , Corn Cockle, Corn Campion, Wild Nigella.—This is a 
Very troublesome weed, and is too common in corn-fields; it should be eradicated 
by hand before it comes into flower. The seeds are large and heavy, and their 
black husks, when mixed with Wheat, breaking so fine as to pass the boulters, 
render the flour specky. They are, therefore, obnoxious to the millers, and 
depreciate the sample of corn. Gerarde says, “ What hurte it doth among corne, 
the spoyle unto breade, as well in colour, taste, and vnwholesomnes, is better 
known than desired.” It is said sometimes to occur with a white flower. The 
flowers are generally purple with bluish streaks or upright stalks, and, however 
odious to the farmer, they must still be considered as very handsome. 
Woodside , near Liverpool , 
Dec. 22, 1837. 
( To be continued.) 
ON THE NATURAL HISTORY, SCENERY, &c., OF NEW ZEALAND. 
By Thomas Kier Short, Esq. 
(Continued from p. 4.) 
I left the Mission station, on the second of May, for the Bay of Islands ; the 
first part of the journey is to be performed in boats on the river Whimar, a branch 
of the Hookeanga. After proceeding up the river for about five miles, I landed 
