Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/510

478&#93; 47^ K C P The principal use of hops", how- ever, is in brewing, for the sdfvation o'f mall liquors, whicl* ■ arc thus rendered more salubrious, and less liable to become sour. Hence vast quantities are consum- ed in Britain : but, having already- pointed out the most proper me- thods of using them, under the head of Bin v. iv.;, we refer the reader to that article. A decoction of hops diluted with water, and given to cattle in very severe weather, is said to be of great service, and remarkably to improve their strength. In Sweden, the stalks of hops are successfully converted into strong cloth ; for ••• I rtch purpose they are gathered m autumn, soaked in water during the winter, and in the succeeding spring, after being dried in stoves, they are dressed like flax. This object has been attempted in Bri- tain, and from an experiment made, in consequence of the premium offered by the patriotic Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Szc. it appears thai hop-bines afford a ma- terial for spinning yarn, which may be woven into fine sacking, as weil r.s coarse bags for hops. — The bines are also employed for bind* • j sh :;>' s of corn ; and they have lately been converted into strong paper. — From the leases and Howery stalks of this plant, '.'!)' n dried, Damiiournky' dyed Wool of a line cinnamon brown, having pivv on sly dipped it in a diluted Bolution of bismuth. — Bek- tiiollkt remarks, that the ex- pressed juice of hop-bines affords a very permanent red-brown co- lour. In medi, : it,-, decocbons and sy- ruj>s oi hop-flowers are said to be atfr nd( d with much benefit in p 1 1, of this volume. HOREHOUND, the White", or Marnihhwi, L. a genus of plants' 1 comprising 12 species, one of which only is indigenous, viz. the ru/gare, or Common White Horehountd, which grows on road sides, and? among rubbish ; it flowers from July to September. This very bitter plant possesses an odour sufficiently grateful ; when given in large doses, it operates as a purgative. It is reputed to be* both attenuant and resolvent ; ail infusion of the leaves in water, sweetened with honey, is recom- mended in asthmatic and phthisical complaints, as well as in most other diseases of the breast and lungs. — < We believe, however, it may with equal, or greater advantage, be em- ployed in currying or tanning soft leather. Bees collect honey from the flowers of the Common "White Horehound, but the herb is not eaten by cither horses, cows, sheep^ or goats. HOREHOUND, the Black, Fetid Hokkiuu;nd, or Hex-bit, hailota nigra, L. an indigenous perennial plant, growing on rub- hi-iii and in hedges ; flowering in the months of July and August. — > No species ol" cattle will touch this table, which is, nevertheless, highly prized by the Swedes, who consider it as an almost universal remedy in the diseases of cattle. A strong decoction of the Fetid Horehound has been much recdm- mende4