PLANT-LORE OF SHAKESPEARE 
145 
Europe in dry and barren places, and it was introduced into 
England in the sixteenth century, but it probably was not a 
common plant in Shakespeare’s time, for though it is mentioned 
by Spenser as “ The Lavender 
still gray ” (“ Muiopotmos ”), 
and by Gerard as growing in 
his garden, it is not mentioned 
by Bacon in his list of sweet¬ 
smelling plants. The fine aro¬ 
matic smell is found in all parts 
of the shrub, but the essential 
oil is only produced from the 
flowers. As a garden plant it is 
found in every garden, but its 
growth as an extensive field 
crop is chiefly confined to the 
neighbourhood of Mitcham and 
Carshalton in Surrey; and 
there at the time of the picking of the flowers, and still more 
in the later autumn when the old woody plants are burned, 
the air for a long distance is strongly and most pleasantly 
impregnated with the delicate perfume. 
Xeatbercoat, see apple. 
Xeefi. 
(1) His eyes were green as Leeks. 
Midsummer Night's Dream, v. 1, 342. 
(2) Tell him I’ll knock his Leek about his pate upon Saint Davy’s Day. 
Henry V, iv. 1, 54. 
(3) If your majesties is remembered of it, the Welshmen did good service 
in a garden where Leeks did grow, wearing Leeks in their Mon¬ 
mouth caps; which your majesty knows to this hour is an honour¬ 
able badge of the service; and I do believe your majesty takes no 
scorn to wear the Leek upon Saint Tavy’s Day.— Ibid., iv. 7, 101. 
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