24 PLANT-LORE OF SHAKESPEARE 
Balm (Melittis melissophyllum ) is a handsome native plant, 
found sparingly in Devonshire, Hampshire, and a few other 
places, and is well worth growing wherever it can be induced 
to grow; but it is a very capricious plant, and is apparently not 
fond of garden cultivation. “Tres jolie plante, mais d’une 
culture difficile ” (Vilmorin). It probably would thrive best in 
the shade, as it is found in copses. 
Barley 
(1) Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas 
Of Wheat, Rye, Barley, Vetches, Oats, and Pease. 
Tempest , iv. i, 60. 
(2) Can sodden water, 
A drench for surrein’d jades, their Barley broth, 
Decoct their cold blood to such valiant heat ? 
Henry V, i’i. 5 ? 18. 1 
These two passages require little note. The Barley ( Hor - 
deum vulgare) of Shakespeare’s time and our own is the same. 
We may note, however, that the Barley broth (2) of which the 
French Constable spoke so contemptuously as the food of 
English soldiers was probably beer, which long before the time 
of Henry V was so celebrated that it gave its name to the 
plant (Barley being simply the Beer-plant), and in Shakespeare’s 
time, “though strangers never heard of such a word or such a 
thing, by reason it is not everyewhere made,” yet “our London 
Beere-Brewers would scorne to learne to make beere of either 
French or Dutch ” (Gerard). 
Barnacles. 
We shall lose our time 
And all be turn’d to Barnacles. — Tempest , iv. l, 248. 
It may seem absurd to include Barnacles among plants; but 
in the time of Shakespeare the Barnacle tree was firmly believed 
1 “Vires ordea prestant.”— Modus Cenandi , 176. (“Babees Book.”) 
