This dangerous “salt of lemons” is very useful in calico printing, in dyeing, and in the bleaching of flax and straw.
The next time you come across a patch of sheep sorrel, stop and think of all it and its relatives are able to do for us.
We usually think of the Geranium Family as being merely ornamental; but, as we have seen, some kinds of tropæolum, several kinds of sorrel, and at least one kind of pelargonium yield edible tubers which are eaten in different parts of the world, and the modest little oxalis yields a substance valuable for manufacturing purposes.
Even our commonplace crane’s bill that blooms so abundantly in the woods in early summer has something for us, for from its roots a medicine is obtained.
Hyacinth Stories
THE HYACINTH.
Out in the garden there’s something so dear!