488 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
May  28,  1896. 
mittee,  in  1871,  with  the  view  of  controverting  a  statement  made 
by  Dr.  Voelcker  in  his  affidavit  in  the  Chancery  proceedings  against 
the  Corporation  of  Birmingham,  he  made  an  experiment  (recorded 
in  the  Report  of  the  Sewage  Inquiry  Committee).  .  .  Dr.  Voelcker 
swore  that  ‘  the  Birmingham  sewage  contained  4  grains  of  iron 
8ulphafe  to  the  gallon,  which  was  very  injurious  to  growing  gra»s.’ 
The  writer  sowed  three  plots  with  grass  seed,  one  was  watered 
from  time  to  time  with  rain  water  [why  not  with  Birmingham 
town  sewage  containing  4  grains  of  iron  sulphate  to  the  gallon  ?] 
another  with  water  containing  5  grains  of  iron  sulphate,  and  the 
third  with  a  solution  of  10  grains  of  the  same  salt  to  the  gallon  ; 
the  last  named  plot  made  double  the  growth  of  the  first,  and  the 
second  was  as  nearly  as  possible  intermediate  between  the  two/’0 
After  many  experiments  with  iron  sulphate,  we  have  come  to 
Mr.  Tonks’  conclusion  that, “  iron  is  of  no  use  unless  it  be  associated 
with  all  the  other  elements  of  plant  growth.”  So  far  from  it  being 
injurious  in  sewage  it  frequently  pays  to  add  1  lb.  sulphate  of  iron 
to  100  gallons  of  thick  sewage,  diluting  such  four  or  five  times  for 
u*e  in  watering  fruit  trees. 
For  the  reasons  stated  the  water  represented  in  the  analysis  is 
not  considered  injurious  to  plants  on  account  of  the  “  large  traces” 
of  iron,  but  would  probably  be  improved  by  an  addition  of  iron 
sulphate.  The  22  grains  per  gallon  of  total  solids  may  imply 
something  beyond  lime,  which  is  presumably  meant  by  the 
11  grains  of  “total  hardness,”  and  this  is  likely  to  prove  the 
difficulty — that  is,  it  will  be  too  hard  for  many  greenhouse  plants, 
and  not  safe  to  use  for  syringing  purposes  until  softened,  as  it  may 
readily  be  by  treating  with  anti-calcaire,  1  lb.  of  this  being  added 
to  250  gallons  of  the  hard  water,  stirring  well,  and  allowed  to 
stand  for  twenty-four  hours,  when  the  chalk  will  be  deposited  at  the 
bottom  of  the  tank  and  water  rendered  soft  ;  while  the  precipita¬ 
tion  is  going  on  the  water  has  a  milky  appearance.  When  the 
water  is  used  care  should  be  taken  not  to  disturb  the  sediment,  and 
the  tank  should  be  frequently  cleaned  out.  The  plan  of  softening 
water  in  the  manner  stated  was  invented  by  the  late  Dr.  Clark  of 
Aberdeen.] 
FLORAL  FACTS  AND  FANCIES.— 19. 
WELL-nigh  as  abundant  in  many  places  as  are  the  common 
grasses  of  our  waysides,  flourishing  even  about  the  neighbourhood  of 
London  along  banks  or  on  hedgerows,  the  familiar  species  of  Bed- 
straw  cannot  but  be  noticed  by  everyone,  especially  when  they  are 
dotted  over  with  their  burry  double  fruits.  According  to  some 
who  profess  to  know,  it  was  these  suggested  the  popular  name, 
at  first  “Beadstraw,”  because  when  beads  were  more  expensive 
than  they  are  now,  such  natural  beads,  which  could  be  obtained  for 
nothing,  were  used  for  counting  prayers  by  some  of  our  forefathers. 
In  support  of  this  it  is  said  the  Bedstraws  were  deemed  sacred 
plants,  the  whorls  of  leaves  being  sometimes  star-like  or  cross-like. 
Galium  cruciatum,  for  instance,  was  called  the  Cross-leaved  Bed- 
straw,  and  numerous  species  have  cruciate  flowers  in  this  tribe. 
Others  maintain  that  the  plants  were  really  used  as  the  ordinary 
name  implies,  and  people  extemporised  beds  of  them,  the  fragrance 
of  honey  that  some  have  being  one  inducement,  perhaps,  though 
the  clinging  nature  of  Bedstraws  could  not  make  them  pleasant  to 
lie  upon.  However  that  may  be,  they  were  plants  once  held  in 
estimation,  but  in  floral  language  they  tell  of  “hardship,”  the 
Great  Hedge  Bedstraws  or  Scratchweed  being  regarded  as  the 
handsomest 
The  Cleavers,  or  Clivers,  originally,  also  Goose  Grass  (Galium 
aparine),  had  its  special  value.  The  bruised  leaves  were  applied  to 
wounds  and  hurts,  while  a  beverage  made  from  the  plant  was  taken 
to  purify  the  blood.  Its  seeds,  roasted,  have  been  used  in  place  of 
Coffee  berries  (and  that  shrub  isakin  to  the  Galiumfamily),also  from 
several  species  a  vinegar  has  been  distilled,  while  the  juice  is  used 
to  curdle  milk.  ’Twas  too  bad  to  make  the  pretty  little  Field 
Madder  (Sherardia  arvensis),  with  pinkish  lilac  flowers,  a  symbo1  of 
“  calumny,”  yet  thus  it  is,  and  the  evergreen  Madder,  Rubia 
peregrina,  too,  which  in  some  districts  of  the  West  grows  so 
abundantly  on  downs  and  cliffs.  Nearly  related  to  the  Galiums  is  the 
fragrant  Woodruff,  yet  more  fragrant  when  dried,  retaining  the  sceDt 
for  years  ;  it  resembles  that  of  new  mown  hay,  changing  to  a  rather 
almond-like  odour.  This  and  other  good  qualities  in  the  plant 
made  it  a  representative  of  “  worth.”  It  is  a  handy  species  to  fill 
up  a  shady  comer  in  a  garden.  But,  as  I  have  pointed  out  to 
friends,  the  operation  of  the  odour  upon  moths  and  other  insects 
seems  to  indicate  that,  like  our  wild  Spirsei,  the  Meadowsweet,  if 
any  quantity  of  the  plant  were  placed  in  a  small  room,  it  might 
affect  peisons  with  headache  or  faiutness.  No  evil  result,  however, 
has  been  known  to  arbo  from  drinking  an  infusion  of  the  leave?, 
*  "  Artificial  Manure.'1  A  Paper  by  Edmund  Tonks,  P.O.ti,  Birm'Dgham :  Cornish 
Brothefs,  New  Street. 
which  was,  probably  is  still,  in  Germany  much  drunk  about  May  or 
J une,  not  bad  tasted,  tourists  say,  with  a  dash  of  Rhine  wine  and 
some  Bugar.  Then  the  dried  leaves  formed  an  ingredient  in  eye 
snuff.  Our  ancestors,  desirous  of  giving  the  popular  name  its  full 
complement  of  letter s,  often  spelt  it  “  Woodderowffe."  The  lesser 
species  has  pinkish  flowers  but  no  scent.  This  was  formerly  the 
Squinancy  Wort,  became  it  was  believed  to  be  a  cure  for  quinsy, 
and  is  partial  to  the  chalk.  A  blue  variety  has  been  produced  in 
gardens. 
Distantly  related  to  these  plants  of  lowly  growth  are  the  tall 
Teasels,  specimens  of  which  are  six-footers  or  even  more  ;  they  were 
made  signs  of  “  seclusion,”  because  parties  of  them  were  noticed 
growing  in  woodland  recesses.  The  Fuller’s  Teasel  (Dipsacus 
fullonum)  has  its  long  leaves  growing  opposite,  and  forming  a  cup, 
which  acts  as  a  receptacle  of  rain,  being  the  only  British  plant  with 
the  ability  to  store  up  water,  like  the  Pitcher  plants  of  hot 
countries.  The  name  seems  to  have  had  a  double  meaning.  The 
dried  flower  heads  have  long  been  used  by  cloth  workers  for  the 
purpose  of  teasing  or  scratching  the  material  to  raise  the  nap.  But 
the  tops  wtre  also  called  “tassels;”  proof  of  this  appears  in 
various  references  to  a  plot  of  ground  known  as  “  Tassei  Close,” 
near  Bishopsgate  Street,  on  which  these  plants  were  grown  to 
supply  the  demand  for  them  in  the  City.  An  odd  notion  of  the 
olden  time  was  that  a  worm  or  grub  found  in  the  flowers  of  the 
Teasel  would  relieve  sickness  if  put  in  a  quill  and  hung  round  the 
neck. 
Scabiousea  of  several  colours — purple,  yellow,  or  white — adorn 
lome  borders  and  edgings  during  the  autumn,  flowers  not  with  a 
favourable  meaning,  since  it  is  *aid  they  tell  of  “  disappointed 
affection,”  yet  they  had  their  high  repute  as  curatives,  hence  the 
name,  our  native  species  being  employed,  in  curing  scabs  and  other 
skin  diseases.  Unfortunately,  however,  the  malignity  of  some  evil 
spirit,  so  is  the  legend,  prompted  him  to  injure  mankind  by  biting 
off  the  most  valuable  portion  of  the  root  of  S.  succisa,  the  Devil’s 
Bit  Scabious.  Sheep  will  eat  the  field  Scabious,  but  its  bitter  taste 
repels  cattle.  “  Sorrel  ”  at  first  was  evidently  sourel,  or  some  such 
word,  referring  to  the  acid  qualities  of  several  plants,  the  name 
being  vague,  but  it  is  now  limited  to  some  species  of  Rumex  and 
Oxalis.  The  larger  Sorrels,  R.  acetosa  and  acetosella,  common  in 
fields  or  waste  places,  with  arrowy  crimson  leaves  and  red  clusters 
of  flowers,  were  regarded,  from  their  colour  perhaps,  as  symbols  of 
“  tenderness”  or  affection. 
Their  allies,  the  Dockp,  represent  “  patience,”  and  truly  they 
call  forth  that  quality  in  the  farmer,  since  their  eradication  from 
the  soil  is  no  easy  matter.  Our  ancestors  did  not,  however,  reject 
some  of  these  plants,  but  put  them  in  their  gardens,  believing  that 
they  had  their  beauty  of  a  sort,  such  as  the  Fiddle- leaved,  Rumex 
pulcber,  and  the  gold  flowered  R.  maritimus,  lover  of  marshes. 
From  these  we  pass  to  the  Wood  Sorrel*,  of  lowlier  growth  ;  emblems 
of  “joy  ”  are  they,  since  the  time  of  Gerard  probably,  as  he  states 
that  one  of  the  names  for  the  common  species  was  “  Alleluia,” 
because  its  flowers  usually  appeared  at  the  time  when  Alleluia 
began  to  be  sung  again  in  churches.  Or  perhaps  it  was,  so  others 
think,  suggested  by  the  closing  of  flowers  and  leaves  at  sunset,  and 
their  re-opening  to  give  a  cheerful  greeting  to  the  morning  light. 
Then  Cuckoo  meat  was  also  one  of  its  names,  on  the  supposition 
that  the  bird  ate  Sorrel  to  clear  its  voice.  That  the  plant  was  used 
by  country  folks  is  certain,  both  as  a  flavouring  for  dishes  and  as  a 
remedy  for  febrile  complaints.  Ruskin  says,  that,  growing  beside 
the  mountains  of  Switzerland,  it*  white  flowers,  scattered  amongst 
the  grass,  suggested  a  resemblance  to  the  manna  of  the  Israelites, 
at  least  this  seems  to  him  the  likeliest  explanation  of  its  name  of 
Pain  de  Dieu.  Much  ink  has  been  shed  in  trying  to  prove  that 
this  plant,  and  no  other,  is  the  true  Shamrock.  There  is  much 
to  be  said  in  its  favour,  but  still  the  point  remains  somewhat 
questionable. 
Flowers  both  of  the  garden  and  the  wild,  the  species  of 
Convolvulus  are  generally  admired,  yet  they  do  not  bear  a  favour¬ 
able  meaning  ;  the  larger  kinds  are  significant  of  “  dead  hope,”  and 
the  humble  species  represent  “uncertainty.”  This  may  have 
arisen  from  the  fragile  nature  of  many  of  their  flowers,  or  the 
readiness  with  which  they  shut  up.  Withy-wind  and  Old  Man’s 
Nightcap  were  other  names  given  to  the  larger  Bindweed  of  our 
hedges,  which  never  seems  to  have  been  put  to  any  medicinal  use  in 
Englard,  though  it  is  allied  to  the  Scammony  and  Jalap  of  the 
East.  Conspicuous  occasionally  on  the  coast  is  the  8ea  Convol. 
vulus,  having  large  rosy  flower*  and  fleshy  leaves,  Calystegia 
soldanella.  The  clinging  Cascutas  or  Dodders,  of  this  family,  are 
too  well  known  in  some  places,  as  living  and  thriving  by  taking  the 
vitality  from  other  plants,  they  are  emblems  of  “  meanness,”  and 
have  acrid  properties,  though  once  deemed  medicinal.  Special 
faith  was  put  in  Djdder  found  growing  upon  Thyme,  since  it  was 
supposed  to  combine  the  virtu<8  of  that  aromatic  plant  with  its 
own  excellencies.-- J.  R.  S,  C. 
