24 THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 
Time.—They flower from the beginning of May to the end 
of harvest. 
Government and Virtuwes.—As they are naturally cold, dry, 
and binding, so they are under the dominion of Saturn. The 
powder or dried leaves of the Blue-Bottle, or Corn-Flower, is 
given with good success to those that are bruised by a fall, or 
have broken a vein inwardly, and void much blood at the 
mouth: being taken in the water of plantaine, horse-tail, or the 
greater comfrey, it is a remedy against the poison of the scor- 
pion, and resisteth all venoms and poison. The seed or leaves 
taken in wine, is good for the plague, all infectious diseases, 
and in pestilential fevers: the juice put into fresh or green 
wounds quickly closes the lips together, and it heals ulcers and 
sores in the mouth; the juice dropped into the eyes takes away 
heat and inflammation; the distilled water of this herb hath the 
same properties. 
A few of the quaint statements regarding the virtues of 
some common plants may be further quoted. 
Baum.—Let a syrup be made with the juice of Balm and 
sugar be kept in every gentlewoman’s house to relieve the weak 
stomachs and sickly bodies of their poor neighbours. It causes 
the mind and heart to become merry, and revives the heart. 
Lity of THE VAuLtEy.—The root heing roasted and mixed 
with hog’s lard makes a gallant poultice, and the ointment made 
also of the root will cure burnings and trimly deck a blank 
place with hair. 
Kyepricur—lIt is under the sign of the Lion, and Sol - 
claims dominion over it. If the herb was but as much used as 
neglected, it would half spoil the spectacle makers’ trade; and 
a man would think that reason should teach people to prefer the 
preservation of their natural before artificial spectacles. 
CaMOMILE.—The flowers of Camomile boyled in lye are 
good to wash the head and comfort both it and the brain. 
Nechessor saith the Egyptians dedicated it to the sun because it 
cured agues and they were like enough to do it for they were 
the arrantest apes in their religion that ever I read of. 
Minv.—Extremely bad for wounded people; and they say 
a wounded man that eats mint, his wound will never be cured, 
and that is a long day. 
Onton.—Take three or four great Onions, and having roasted 
them well in the embers, take off the outward pill, then bruise 
them with a few cummin seeds in powder, this applyed plaister- 
wise, in a few times using’ helps the head-ach. This I am per- 
suaded, the hair heing shaven off, is a good remedy for the 
Lethargy. 
