The Botanist's Companion, Volume II / Or an Introduction to the Knowledge of Practical Botany, and the Uses of Plants. Either Growing Wild in Great Britain, or Cultivated for the Puroses of Agriculture, Medicine, Rural Oeconomy, or the Arts

by William Salisbury

SECTION XII.—-PLANTS USED IN RURAL OECONOMY.

The following few plants are such as are used for domestic purposes which do not fall under any of the foregoing heads, and I therefore have placed them together here.

606. CONFERVA.—This green thready substance has the power of rendering foetid water sweet; for which purpose, when water is scarce, it is usually put into water-tubs and reservoirs.

607. CORYLUS Avellana. HAZEL NUT.—The young shoots of hazel put into casks with scalding water, render them sweet if they are musty, or contain any bad flavour.

608. CROCUS vernus. SPRING CROCUS.—Is well kown as a spring flower, producing one of the most cheerful ornaments to the flower-garden early in the spring. It affords a great variety in point of beauty and colour, and is an article of considerable trade among the Dutch gardeners, who cultivate a great number of varieties, which every year are imported into this and other countries.

609. EQUISETUM hyemale. DUTCH RUSH.—Of this article great quantities are brought from Holland for the purpose of polishing mahogany. The rough parts of the plant are discovered to be particles of flint.

610. ERIOPHORUM polystachion. COTTON GRASS.—The down of the seeds has been used, instead of feathers, for beds and cushions; and the foliage in the north of Scotland is considered useful as fodder.

611. GALIUM verum. YELLOW LADIES' BEDSTRAW.—The foliage affords the dairy-maid a fine rennet for making cheese.

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