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4
of
quinqtiefolia),
;
221 nacy. 3
Celandine
basis of an oint-
thc skin, and
it is
The plant was was very popular e plant
uise "if
is
called
you put
they are in the s '
again with this things are vain witnesseth, Tliat
Is is
put forth by
time be restored of the swallow
:
Canadian Recwd of
222
Science.
by the Chinese and Japanese and by North American Tcre Lafitau discovered the plant in Canada in Indians. 1716',
and the greatest excitement ensued on account
the high price the ])laut
Garneau says frais du nord :
"
Le ginseng (fie de
Laurent k Canton. cher; de sorte
Quebec
commanded
(lue
I'Asie, II fut
les
Chinois tiraint a grand
bords du
St.
trouve excellent et vendu
tri-s
fut
porte
des
qui
Inentot une livre,
({ue de^ix francs,
of
M.
market.
in the
y monta jusqu'a
ne valait a
vingt-cinq francs.
en fut exportc, une annoe pour 500,000 francs. Le haut prix que cette racine avait atteint, excita une aveugle On la cueillit an mois de mai an lieu du mois cupidite. de septembre, et on la fit secher an four au lieu de la faire aux secher lentement et a I'ombre elle ne valuit plus rien II
:
ing which healeth
yeux de Chinois, qui cesserent d'en acheter. Ainsi, un commerce qui promettait de devenir une source de tomba et s'eteignit complctement en pen richesse,
the leaves of the
d'annees."^
tie
tale grew,
how
ntly used, though
miedie against i» said
all
that few
)me can handle it, is view is directly
As a blood-purifier, ginseng has ever been a popular home medicine, and of late it has again become a Another member of tlie readily marketable commodity. family, spikenard (Aralia racemosa), is used for poultices and as a salve in skin diseases. The Compositae furnish several
famous
remedies.
Southernwood {Artemisia ahrotinum), as in the time of Galen and Dioscorides, is thought good for inflammation
And
of the eyes."
man and
of
repute and They are sought
Treat
3ut sarsaparilla is
patent >ts
medicine.
bear a supposed
aUinthiumY Froui early times it has been deep veneration as a cure for inflammation, " ill-humours and weaknesses." sprains, wounds, and all
held in
Wormwood
Oerarde.
is
also.
An
Prccieiise
Plante
a favorite disinfectant
old
rhyme
by Tusser asks Mcmoiro & La Due d'Orleans, coiieermmt
1
1
ills
wormwood
(Artemesia
highly esteemed enlarged."
the greatest of panaceas for all the
beast, according to the simpler, is
Taitarie U6couverte en Ani^riiiue jmr
le
de Jesus. 5
du Canada, par F.-X. Garneau. Gerarde'g " Herball."
L'Hlstolre
J. 4,
la
du Ginseng de
Pore Josciili.PranQnis Liifitnu de la Coniimgnie
;
\'
223
Canadian Plant-Lore. " What savour is better, if physicke be true, For places infected, than wormwood and rue?"'
The '•oot of elecampane {Inula hclenium) " taken with prevaileth hony or sugar made in an electuary mightily against the cough,"'^ and a candy made from tlie victims of it and molasses is most popular with whooping-cough, whether from the healing properties or soothing qualities of the sweet, it would be difficult to say. The dyspeptic natures of the Clarenceville people demand varied treatment, and boneset tea {Eupatormm per/oliahcm), " dandelion bitters" {Taraxacum dcns-lconis), and tansy tea {Taneccttim vulgare) are mentioned in respectful tones by older people who measure the efficacy Dandelions are of a medicine by its unpleasantness. favourite "greens," and Culpepper, who is fond of preaching a seimon, says of the herb " the French and Dutch do eat .
m
it
the spring," showing, he adds, that
are not so selfish as ours, but
•
.
.
foreign physicians
more communicative
of the
virtues of plants to people."^
Rheumatism
a disease of which
is
the_;
so-called cures
The favouriie remedy is to carry in the pocket a potato, which in some mysterious way absorbc the disease. A piece of flax bound round the afflicted member, or applications of smartweed {Polygonum'hydropiper) are also commonly used. are as varied as the victims.
Saffron {Crocus measles, but
it is
sativus) is
a Clarenceville
not a local remedy.
cure for
Gerarde says,
"
the
eyes being anointed with the same dissolved in milke or fennel or rose water are preserved from being hurt by
small-pox or measles."* jaundice
is
flower, of
The use
of saffron in cases of
probably due to the bright yellow color of the
which Dioscorides said
" it
coloured."' 1
" The Folk-Lore of PlaiiU" by T. P. Thistleton Dyer. Geranle'a " Herball."
>. 4. B.
>
Culpepiwr'a Complete IlerbnI.
maketh a man
well-
—
—
mi)
"
.
r
Throat and lung troubles are very prevalent in the Eastern Townships, and many old remedies for coughs are Elecampane has been already noticed, used. still
laiuly
the
1
taken with prevaileth
,
made from victims of
ling properties or
be
difficult to say.
reuceville
people
tea {Eupatoriuin
,
tacwm ire
dens-leonis),
mentioned in
jasure the efficacy
Dandelions are s I
•
fond of preaching and Dutch do eat
hemlock (Tauga Cmadeims) is steeped and taken for ordinary colds, and a decoction of horehound {Marrubium More popular than vidgarc) is esteemed by consumptives. any other, liowever, is the Mullein (Vcrbascum thapsm), once called the witches' taper. It is interesting to note that in New England the mullein is made into a poultice thread" as
in IX
is
it
often
called,
is
trifolia), or "
used
goold-
the cure
-for
of
Smellage" or smallage (Ajniim, gravcolens) The is considered an excellent purifier of the blood. plantain {Plantago major) is used for the healing of "
sore tliroats.
wounds, and the appHcation of a dock-leaf to the sting of is as well known us the old English adage
a nettle
" Nettle out, dock in Dock remove the nettle
sting."'
of the
the^ so-called cures
ivouriie
Gold-thread {Coptic
for tooth-ache.
foreign physicians
nnmnicative
Rrcoi'd of Science.
224
true,
ndruet"!
Canadian
223
remedy
is
some mysterious bound round the
irtweed (Polygonum-
Applications of the dried and pulverized root of " yellowdock" {Rumex hritannica) or of galium will at once, it stop the bleeding of a wound. Although, in New England, plants with milky juice are supposed to cause warts, in Clarenceville, the Juice of the milkweed {Asclcpias cornnti) is considered an infallible
is believed,
cure for them. enceville
Hops
cure for
and induce
will allay pain
An
sleep.
ear-ache
Gerarde says, " the dissolved in milke
may be cured by an onion poultice. The ash, which in many places is considered a protection against serpents,^
from being hurt by
and with which a charm
;
,
saffron in cases of
connected,
yellow color of the
root
tnaketh a
man
well-
is
cut,
is
seems
to
have been always
another cure for an ear-aclie.
one end
is
charred in the
fire,
A
piece of
the sap oozing
from the other end is caught and dropped into the ear, whereupon the pain ceases. Catnip, catnep, or catmint {Nepeta cataria), so-called because cats love its odour and 1
Dyer's Folk^Lore of Plants.
a Fiske's
,
Mjtlis and MytliMakere.
Canadian Planf-Lore. and tumble in
roll
225
has since the time of Gerarde been
it,
steeped and taken to relieve pains of
all
kinds.
was not so much the inherent remedial properties of ))lants which brought them into repute as supposed magical virtues or some peculiar method of In the past,
it
applying the remedy.
This supei'stitious
feeling
still
and a striking instance was alforded, in Clarenceville, by an old man, who cured wounds and soies, especially of aninuils, by means of " the sticks." Up to the time of his death, four years ago, he was in great demand in cases which had defied the skill of a veterinary surgeon, and even those who were ashamed of their belief said he ettected wonderful cures. His great age, pompous maimer, absolute faith in himself, and his supposed wisdom, derived from some Indians over whom he had been captain, combined to make the exists,
of the sticks
application
an impressive ceremony.
A
charm or formula, which was kept a profound secret, So far as is known, the cure was wrought was used. as
follows
:
—three
slender
were cut from a
long,
twigs,
sweet-apple
Having been
ened at both ends.
about tree,
four
inches
and
sharp-
inserted in the
wound
few minutes, they were removed, wrapped in paper, and carefully tied up. As it was most important that for a
them day and placed them under These precautions having been taken,
they should be uept warm, the operator carried in an inner pocket during the his pillow at night.
the most dangerous wound invariably healed rapidly. The use of the number three and of the sweet-apple tree, which has in many places ;uid at all times had mystic virtues ascribed to local
custom had
The phalia
it,
its
live-for-ever is
perhaps indicate that this curious
origin in an ancient practice.
{Sedum
telephium),
which
in
West-
used as a charm against lightning, and which
serves as a love
charm^ in some parts of England, was
formerly used by the Germans and" the English as a cure '
"The
Folk-Ijore of Plants"
by Dyer.
—
225 Gerarde been
of
kinds.
into repute as
method
culiar
of
still
feeling
ions
in
Clar-
rounds and
soies,
Iforded,
Up
sticks."
to
he was in great skill of a veter-
,
i
for
various
were ashamed His great of
cures.
make
the
ceremony.
A
to
ive
profound secret,
a
cure was wrought ibout tree,
four
inches
and
sharp-
erted in the
wrapped
wound
in paper,
'ator
them
feeling
if
a belief
" Ib
A
healed rapidly,
ie
that this curious
a sure termination to Boniebody's
a token of
nt practice.
which in Westghtning, and which •ts of England, was le
English as a cure
in
their
ripe,
life."
any unseasonable event or dream being ill-luck is voiced in a saying " to dream of of
fruit out of season is to
sorrow out of reason."
This
is
a
wrongly quoted and misapplied English rhyme,' which is an example of the many changes which plant-lore undergoes in
its
travels
from
A
one country to another.
curious instance of differences in word and thought
furnished by a Clarenceville and
An
apple in the morning
but at night
it is
lead."
is
Make
New
golden, at
:
to bed,
the doctor beg his
bread."'''
can be added to the plant names, weather-lore,
love-charms, and children's writer in a former paper.^
games, mentioned
The compass plants
by the
of different
countries vary greatly, and a bit of local woodcraft
that
the
always points "
is
England dictum, noon it is silver,
While a Devonshire rhyme says
" Eat an apple going
belief ft),
in
'
•
bloom upon the apple-tree, when the apples are
The idea
Little
he sweet-apple tree, 1 times had mystic
it
an apple-tree blossom in the fall. This is due to in New England and embodied in an
old Northamptonshire proverb
having been taken,
.ily
ill-repute
even a sprig of
common
placed them under >
however, in
is,
life is due to a power upon the very existence of human beings, and that it keeps fresli and green at tlieir expense. Although the old superstitions have lost their power, some have a lingering belief in the possibility of finding water by means of a witch-hazel twig, and in the protection from lightning, which is afforded by a beechtree, and many niore own to a decidedly uncomfortaljle
important that carried
It
will allow
houses, believing tliat its tenacity of
"
ost
Few
Scicnt,
of feeding
n himself, and his over ne Indians
ned
diseases.
Clareiiceville.
nherent remedial III
CnnnUcan Record of
226
is
the
topmost branch of a pine or hemlock
to the north.
The weather-wise say that
the turning up of leaves so as to show the lighter under
side is a sure sign of rain." 1.
<
" The Folk-Lore of Plauts" by Dyer. >. Canadian Record of Science, April, 1803.
This appearance, which
is
Ztp.M9
130(r
Canadian Plant-Lore. an adaptation
227
to reduced transpiration, is really
due to
the curling of a leaf in times of drought, so as to present
edge
the
rays of
the
to
the
sun.
Several curious
A
man, from fear or ague, may " shake like a popple-leaf," a calm person is " as cool as a cucumber," and a wealthy man is " worth a plum," while As a valueless object or person " is not worth shucks." in New Eagland,* " shucks" for nut-shells, the " tossell and silk" of the corn and " corn-cob" are common terms. expressions are
common.
In regard to plant names, there matter.
discrimination
Little
is
is
a lack of interesting
shown, and, to the
majority, all small, pale, spring-flowers are "mayflowers."
Popular English plant names are sometimes misapplied, the
instance,
for
marsh-marigold {Caltha palustris)
called " the cowslip," periwinkle
(
Vinca minor)
is
is
known
as " myrtle,"
and the jewel-weed (Impatiensfulva) is often Another popular name for the jewelweed, "touch-me-not," referring to the sudden bursting styled " smart- weed."
of tl.3 pods
when
that the plant
is
touched,
may
account for a curious idea
poisonous to the touch and will cause
blindness.
A favourite
amusement, transplanted from England, is by one, at the same time repeating the formula, " Eich man, poor man, beggar mau, The term used thief, doctor, lawyer, merchant, chief." to pluck the rays of a daisy one
with the of the
last
ray indicates the status of the future spouse
experimenter.
As
elsewhere, four-leaved clovers
exercise their magic spell, dandelion curls
and whistling
grasses rejoice the hearts of successive generations of boys
and of
girls,
lady's
and practical jokes owing
thumb knotweed (Polygonum
to
the confusion
persicarUi) -and
the smartweed (P. hydropipex) have a perennial fres' ness. Thus the fancies and games of childhood prolong the fading romance of the past, and furnish connecting links which prove the whole world kin. >Th« Century Magiuiiie, Apri),
1894.
227
Lore.
due to
ration, is really
rought, so as to present Several curious sun.
from
,
fear or J^ue,
person
is "
may
as cool as a
worth a plum," while As worth shucks." " tossell and t-shells, the "
lot
lb"
8 is is
are
common
terms.
a lack of interesting shown, and, to the
towers are " mayflowers." e sometimes misapplied,
{Caltha palustris)
Id
minor) ( Vinca
is
is
known
[Impatiensfulva) is often opular name for the jewelto the
sudden bursting
ccount for a curious idea the touch and will cause planted from England, is by one, at the same time in,
poor man, beggar mau» The term used
chief."
itatus of the future spouse
?hero, four-leaved clovers lelion curls
and whistling
jessive generations of
owing
boys
to the confusion
'olygonum persicaria) -and lave a perennial fresi ness. of childhood i
prolong the
furnish connecting links
in.
r
