149 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, December 11, 1860. 
DANDELION AS A MEDICINE. 
The value of Dandelion as a medicine in liver complaints and 
indigestion lias been so striking in different instances in my own 
neighbourhood, I venture to give a detailed account for the 
benefit of others, and hope it may be the means of securing a 
corner in more than one cottage garden for a bed of this prizable 
weed. 
The first case which occurred was that of an old man near 
seventy, whose active and temperate habits had kept illness 
away, till misfortune and neglect induced weak health by degrees, 
and this ended in severe illness. The medical man prescribed 
for liver complaint, as he termed it, but the patient received no 
relief; and dropsy of the body as well as of the limbs followed. 
The hands were nearly useless, and, together with the old man’s 
weak state, prevented him for some time from dressing himself. 
The doctor considered more medicine unadvisable, and for a 
short time nothing was tried. It was supposed further help was 
impossible. A stock of liquid Dandelion was, however, sent 
by friends at a distance, with a request that it might be tried. 
Its success will be known when it is stated the old man has 
-entirely lost the swelling in his body and limbs, and can once 
again enjoy life, grateful for the gift of health. For a few weeks 
he was without his medicine, his stock having fallen short, and 
the swelling again returned in part, but again gave way, and left 
entirely a second time on his resuming the Dandelion. No 
•other medicine was taken after this was first tried ; and careful 
diet was the only other means used till sufficient strength had 
returned to allow of change of ah. 
The second case was a very severe confirmed liver attack, and 
had caused great suffering for two years before the Dandelion 
was tried. The patient’s skin was literally dark yellow, and 
medicine had proved of no avail. No swelling accompanied 
this instance, but weakness and inability to retain food were 
constantly present. A few weeks’ trial of Dandelion gave hope 
of something like a return to health ; and half a year’s use has 
very nearly completed the cure. There is scarcely a trace of any 
•symptom left, and the skin is almost its natural colour. The 
husband’s gladness on his wife’s recovery expressed itself in a 
determination never to be without Dandelion in the house again. 
Another case was that of a neighbour suffering from scurvy, 
which had marked the whole body in patches the size of half a 
crown or a crown. She was advised to have medical treatment, 
but delayed from week to week, thinking her good constitution 
might throw' it off. However, no amendment came, and she was 
induced by persuasion to try Dandelion as a relief, but not with 
any hope of cure. After a fortnight’s trial, she had improved so 
rapidly that she continued it, and in little more than five weeks 
was in her usual good health, to her own surprise as well as that 
of the friend who named this root to her. 
I could add other cases as striking, but trust these three 
strictly correct accounts are sufficient, and should be glad if they 
prove of use to any sufferer. 
Interesting papers on the Dandelion have appeared in The 
Cottage Gardener at different times, and two of them speak 
of it as being refused by cows, which is certainly a mistake. 1 
once put it to the test, and found it taken eagerly ; and two 
farmei’s to whom it was named agreed it was a favourite plant 
with cows. 
Our cottagers make tea of the flowers and leaves, as well as 
the roots, but the last are best, being strongest. They may be 
dried and kept for winter use. In using the fresh or dried roots, 
it is recommended to shoe and boil six or eight ounces in two 
pints of water till reduced to half. Four table-spoonfuls to be 
taken three or four times a-day, between meals.—S. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Ant-hills Mixed with Gas Lime [W.S .).—We should have used the 
heap of ant-hill rubbish you speak of freely as it was naturally ; but from 
our own experience we can say nothing- of the mixture than that we should 
be afraid of it as a compost for Pelargoniums and Fuchsias. It is more 
suited for the kitchen-garden crops we think. 
Roses for a South Front—Planting Potatoes (A Constant Sub¬ 
scriber ).—Where the Cloth of Gold Rose has been allowed a respite from 
pruning for a few years in the southern counties, it has made a fair begin¬ 
ning to bloom; but to hope to restrict a gardener from watering a bulb for 
six months after potting it, or from pruning a Rose three or fout times in 
a year instead of once in ten or twelve years, and then only to thinning it, 
would be to hope against hope : therefore we prefer to advise you to plant 
a Fellemberg Noisette instead. Cromatella was once the name of Cloth of 
Gold. As for autumn-planting Potatoes, it is now too late to think of it; 
and the land is so thoroughly soaked that we would not advise planting 
Potatoes during the winter quarter. The best market and kitchen-gar¬ 
dener we know, never plants a Potatoe but under glass till the first week 
in April, never plants but the very earliest kinds, and never has the disease 
in one out of ten bushels. We have been watching his movements since 
1853, and that has been his constant practice. 
Potted Vines in a Cold Greenhouse [PeckhamSubscriber). —In such 
a house you must let your Vines break their buds without any extra excite¬ 
ment. We can recommend you to do nothing, hut to take carefully away 
now a couple of inches or more of the surface soil, and replace with rich, 
compost; and, if frost is apprehended, either plunge the pots or surround 
them with litter or an old mat tied round them. The roots in a pot at all 
exposed-will be more easily injured than the buds and wood, which, if well 
ripened, will stand all they are likely to receive in an orchard-house. 
Climbers for Greenhouse [P. JE.) —As respects the Stephanotis, all 
will depend on the heat of the conservatory. If it is rarely below 50° in 
winter, generally nearer 55°, the plant will do admirably. If your house 
at night averages from 40° to 45° or so, the Stephanotis will languish and 
ultimately die. Such climbers as Ipomcea Learii, Mandevilla suaveolens, 
and even the beautiful Passiflora quadrangularis and Buonapartea and 
alata will do well in such circumstances, especially if after pruning back in 
autumn, when fully established, the stems were brought and fastened 
loosely against the division of the two houses in winter. 
Scale of Pf.ar Trees (P. P.).—Gishurst Compound, 8 ozs. to a gallon 
of water, will kill this vermin. See page 123 of our No. 635, published 
November 27. 
British Birds [Progressionist). —We know of no work cheaper than 
Mr, Yarrell’s “ British Birds,” g.ving an “entire figureof every species.” 
Macgillivray’s “ History of British Birds,” gives only the heads, claws, 
and such feathers as are required for identifying the species. It is in five 
volumes, and may he bought sometimes cheaply second-hand. The 
descriptions and details of the habits of the birds are by far the most 
accurate and interesting that we know. 
Scottish Gardener Magazine (A Subscriber). —It is published monthly 
by D. Guthrie, 337, High Street, Edinburgh. Piice 6 d. ; 7s. a-year, free 
by post. Negretti, in Hatton Garden, would furnish the instruments you 
ask about. Festuca glauca seed we do not know the price of, hut any 
wholesale seedsman will tell you, if you write to him. 
Various (P. Tempest) .—The Elton Cherry-hud, or graft, failed, and you 
have been cultivating the wild stock, the fruit of which is small and 
hitter. If you regraft the stock it must be on the branches; hut you had 
better plant a young tree. The Plums you mention will succeed as hushes 
and pyramids. GeLsid of the hens that persist in pecking the cock. 
Work on Fruit Culture (A Pleiv Subscriber).— -You will find all that 
you require in “ Fruit Gardening for the Many,” published at our office. 
For five postage stamps you can have it sent to your direction free by post. 
Spergula saginoides [A Schoolmaster).- —This is neither “Dodder” 
nor “Poverty,” hut a little hardy trailing evergreen, about half an inch 
high, rooting from the joints of the stems, and anative of Great Britain. It 
is one of the Caryophyllacem, or natural order of Pinks ; the minute flowers 
are white, and a drawing of it may be seen in Sowerhy’s “ English Botany,” 
f. 2105. It and S. prolifera would do on a light soil, especially if moist. 
On your six-feet-wide border a row- of trees might be grown against the 
wall, and a row of dwarf trees to he taken up annually next the walk ; hut 
both, the wall and dwarf trees should ho at least fifteen feet apart, the 
dwarfs being planted opposite the middle of each of the spaces between the 
wall trees. Buy “ Fruit Gardening for the Many,” as recommended to-day 
to another correspondent. 
Names of Ferns ( B. Fielder).— One of the forms of Teucrinm chamiedrys. 
No mowing machine yet invented works without making a clicking noise. 
( W. W.).—\, Woodwardia radicans ; 2, Pteris hastata, var. maerophylla ; 
3,Asplenium bulbiferum, var.; 4, Pteris longifolia; 5, Blechnum cog- 
natum ; 6, Selaginella cuspidata. 
Names of Plants (Sarrie).— Such scraps are indeterminable. The 
woolly-leaved plant appears to be an Origanum. 
POULTRY AND BEE-KEEPER’S CHRONICLE. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
December 12th, 13'h, and 14th. Northern Counties (Darlington). 
Sec., J. Hodgson, Darlington. Entries close Nov. 19th. 
December 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th. Crystal Palace. (Poultry, Pigeons, 
Rabbits, Ornamental Water Fowl, and Pheasants). Sec., Mr. W. 
Houghton. Entries close November 10. 
December 18th and 19th. Lord Tredegar’s, at Newport, Monmouth¬ 
shire. Sec., Mr. C. II. Oliver, Commercial Street, Newport. Entries 
close Nov. 21st. ,, 
December 21st and 22nd. Halifax Pigeon Show. Sec., D. R. Edgar. 
Entries close December 8th. 
December 27th, 28th and 29th. Kendal. Son. Secs., G. o. Whitwell 
and T. Wilson. En’ries close December 12th, 
January 2nd and 3rd. Cork. Sec., J. Dowling, Janeville, Sunday’s 
Well. Entries close December 15th. 
January lfith and 17th. Poulton-le-Fylde. Son. Sec.,Mr. J. S. Butler. 
Entries close January 1st. ^ ,. T 
January 30th and 31st. Ulverston. Secs., Mr. T. Robinson and Mr. J. 
Kitchen. Entries close January 10th. 
February 6th and 7tti. Liverpool. (Poultry and Pigeons). Sec., Mr. 
A. Edmondson, 4, Dale Street. 
June 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th. Bath and West of England. 
N.B .—Secretaries will oblige us by sending early copies of their lists. 
BIRMINGHAM POULTRY SHOW. 
We resume our report of this great Show, and are now at 
liberty to comment on the classes and awards we published last 
week. 
