GROWING IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF COLCHESTER. 33
may be cleane, let them remain in the syrrup till the next day, and then set them
on the fire in a faire broad pan vntill they be verie hot, but let them not boile at all;
let them there remaine over the fire an houre or more, remooving them easily in
the pan from one place to another with a woodden slice. This done have in
readinesse great cap or royall papers, whereupon you must straw some sugar, vpon
which lay your roots, after that you have taken them out of the pan. These
papers you must put into a stove or hot-house to harden ; but if you have not such
a place lay them before a good fire. In this manner if you condite your roots,
there is not any can prescribe you a better way."
What little Eryngo root is now required for the market is imported
from Germany in a dried state. I have no doubt, from descriptions
received from persons who recollect the preparation, that the
candied Eryngo was, as formerly prepared, a very good demulcent,
similar to the various jujubes now much used. It therefore did not
owe its fame, like so many older remedies, to ignorance; and had
the supply of roots not been exhausted, it might have continued
in use until the present day.
Bupleurum tenuissimum, L. Lately found at Clacton,
Walton, and Mersea.
Bidens tripartita, L., and B. cernua, L. Both occur on
the banks of the Colne at Lexden.
Filago gallica, L. This plant is one of the rarest found in
Essex, one might almost say in England, and I am glad to state that
it is still plentiful at Berechurch. As it springs up in the autumn
after the corn has been grown and harvested, it is only once in
several years that it can be found.
Centaurea solstitialis, L. Has occasionally occurred in our
neighbourhood.
Arnoseris pusilla, Gaert. One specimen was found at Bere-
church by the Rev. E. F. Linton in a field of barley. A long
search, first by himself, and later on by the Rev. J. D. Gray and
myself, failed to discover another example.
Lathraea squamaria, L. This still grows in a meadow at
Marks Hall near Halstead, its only locality in Essex.
Scrophularia vernalis, L. A specimen was brought to me
by Mr. Harwood while I was engaged in writing this report. The
plant has a very different appearance from the other Scrophulariae, it
is indeed very like a calceolaria.
Mentha pulegium, L. I know of a locality where the Penny-
royal Mint grows freely; a pretty little plant, and interesting as
C 3