of plants, producing two species.
1. The Sphondylium, or Common Cow-parsnip, which is found in hedges, meadows and pastures. It is biennial, and bears whitish flowers, which blow in the month of July: its stalks grow from three to four feet high. In Poland and Lithuania, the peasants prepare a liquor from the leaves of this plant, which, after undergoing fermentation, is brewed, and drank instead of beer. As this beverage is perfectly harmless, it might with advantage be substituted for some kinds of ale, in which the most pernicious substances are infused, with a view to give it a head.—The inhabitants of Kamtschatka peel the roots, which afford a nutritious and wholesome food. An ardent spirit is also distilled by the Russians and Poles from the medullary substance of the stalks, and sometimes from the whole branches, which are first fermented in water with the great bilberries (see vol. i. p. 255), from which they obtain a liquor of considerable strength. It is more agreeable to the palate than the ardent spirits distilled from corn; though we must observe, on the authority of Dr. Böhmer, that it is a still more intoxicating and pernicious liquor than whisky.—Hogs, rabbits, and asses, are extremely fond of the leaves, which are also eaten by cows, goats, and sheep, but not relished by horses.
2. The Angustifolium, or Narrow-leaved Cow-parsnip, which is found in woods, and flowers in July. It has no peculiar properties.
Cow-Parsley, or Cow-weed. See Chervil.
Cow-quakes. See Quaking-grass.
COWSLIP, the Common, or Paigle, or Cowslip-primrose, Primula veris, L. a native perennial plant, growing in meadows and pastures, on a loamy or clayey soil. It produces sweet-scented yellow-flowers, which appear in April, and are used for making cowslip-wine, or balsamic tea. Its roots have a fine odour, similar to that of anise; and give additional strength to ale or beer, when immersed in the cask. The leaves and flowers of this plant are excellent food for silk-worms, which are extremely fond of them; they are also eaten as a pot-herb, and in salads.—Cattle eagerly feed on the leaves.
COW-WHEAT, or Melampyrum, L. a genus of native, annual plants, comprising four species, of which the following are the principal:
1. The arvense, or Purple Cow-wheat, which grows in corn-fields, and is chiefly found in the county of Norfolk. It bears flowers of a yellow dusky purple, which blow in the month of July, and are succeeded by yellowish seeds. These, when ground with corn, impart a dusky, greyish cast, and a bitter flavour to the bread; but do not render it unwholesome. A decoction of the flower-spikes produces a tolerably durable blue colour, and, with the addition of the fixed vegetable alkali, a purplish red. Cronstedt, the Swedish mineralogist, obtained a fine blueish colour from the stalks alone; but none from the leaves and flowers.—The plant is eaten by cows and goats, but refused by sheep.
2. The pratense, or Common yellow Cow-wheat, which grows in woods and thickets, especially on clayey soils. Its blossoms are
