MORE LABIATES 153 
which causes suffering for many months, and has 
been said even to cause death. Our country has 
“a mild and variable climate,” say the geography 
books, and emphasis should be laid upon the word 
variable ; but we may thank our stars that we have 
no such vicious animals or plants as are found in 
countries where the sun blazes more steadily than 
with us. 
We are right amongst the Labiates this morning. 
I see the Ground Ivy (Nepeta glechoma) is in great 
profusion. Notice its trailing stems and its bright 
purplish-blue flowers, which grow in threes from 
the axils of the leaves. If I had not seen the 
blue of the Hedge Sparrow’s eggs quite recently, I 
should probably have said there never was such a 
blue as that of the Ground Ivy. It is a humble 
flower, but, like humble folk, it improves on close 
acquaintance. Old-fashioned folk say the dried 
leaves of this plant make a healthy tea ; probably 
there is something in their statement, but I have not 
tested it practically, so cannot give you my testi- 
mony on the point. Then, here are some young 
plants of the Hedge Wound-wort (Stachys sylvatica). 
They have leaves, but not flowers. The latter do 
not usually appear until July. But you may know 
the plant quite well without its flowers; it has 
heart-shaped, crenate, stalked leaves, and if you 
bruise one of the plants you will at once detect 
an offensive smell, which has been likened to that 
of festering wounds. I think I have seen it stated 
somewhere that this plant was once used as a healing 
balm for wounds. You will say the remedy was 
surely worse than the evil. Still another Labiate— 
20 
