Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Mustard, the Hedge

MUSTARD, the HEDGE, or Erysimum, L. a genus of plants, comprising ten species, four of which are natives of Britain.

1. The officinale, Common Hedge-mustard; Worm-seed; Bank-cresses; or Scrambling-rocket: it grows under walls and hedges, on road-sides, and among rubbish; where it flowers in the months of May and June.—This species possesses a warm and acrid flavour; and, when cultivated, is used as an early pot-herb. Its seeds, taken internally, promote expectoration, the discharge of urine, and other fluid secretions. The juice has been employed with unparalleled success in ulcers of the throat, and for removing hoarseness, occasioned by loud speaking.—Sheep and goats relish this species; but cows, horses, and swine refuse it.

2. The Barbarea, Winter-cresses; Winter-rocket; or Rocket-wormseed; which grows on walls, in watery places, on banks of running streams, and is sometimes found in cultivated fields: it flowers from May to October.—In Sweden, the common people use the leaves of this herb in early salads in the spring, and late in the autumn: they also boil them as kale.—It is sown in Britain, to obtain spring-salad, and eaten under the name of French Cress.—Cows devour this plant; but horses and swine refuse it; and it is disliked by goats and sheep.

The Alliaria, Garlic Hedge-mustard, Jack-by-the-hedge, Sauce-alone, or Garlic Wormseed, thriving on ditch-banks, in hedges, and shady places; it flowers in the month of May.—When growing in farm-yards, poultry are induced to eat this herb, which imparts to their flesh an intolerable rank taste. The Prussians eat the leaves, in the spring, with salted meat; and they are equally useful with lettuce, and the colder salads.—In Wales, it is frequently used as a frying herb.—The seeds excite sneezing.—Bautsch employed this herb with advantage in the process of tanning.—Cows and goats eat the plant; but horses, sheep, and swine refuse it.

4. The cheiranthoides, Treacle Hedge-Mustard, or Treacle-Wormseed, thrives in corn-fields, and on the banks of rivers; it flowers in the month of July.—The seeds of this species are, according to Dr. Withering, successfully used by the country people, for destroying worms.—The plant is eaten by horses, cows, goats, sheep, and swine.