Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/197

MAT in different parts of England, and is said to be very useful ; as many poor wines may thus be preserved potable for a considerable time. We doubt, however, its salubrity; and conceive that other articles might be advantageously employed instead of the pernicious fumes of sulphur, which render botli wine and cyder alike unwholesome, espe- cially for persoiis affected with dis- eases of the breast or lungs. Matgrass. SeeMATWEED. Mathen. See Fetid Chamo- WIUE, MATLOCK WATERS, are those mineral springs which issue from the limestone-hill or rock, on which the village of Matlock, in Derby- ^hire, is situated. They are remaTk<- able for dieir purity; and are 'botli cold and tepid : the latter llow abundantly, jlnd are partly crfled- ed into bathg for medicinal 'pur- poses. The sehsible qualities of the Mat- lock waters vary but little from those of good spring water, which they greatly resemble in taste ; be- ing perfettly clear ; divested of all acidulous flavour : and exhaling no steam, unless during very cold or frosty weather. These springs maybe advantage- ously used it! ail cases, where pufe diluent drink is necessary; but they are chiefly resorted to for tepid bathing; and form a raediuih between the waters of Buxton or Bath, and those of the sea, for which last they may be benelicially substituted by invalids. Their tem- perature exceeds that of the cold bath only in a few degrees ; and, as the Matlock waters produce a very slight shock, on immersion, they are particularly calculated for those persons whose delicate or vealdy fiames are iinabltj . to tup- HQ. X. VOL, III. MAT [17^ port the sudden effefts of the usttal cold bath. Matrimoky. See MAKRiAGEi MATWEED, the Sea, Helme, Sea-heed, or Markam, Arundo nrenaria, L. an indigenous peren- nial plant, growing only on the driest sandy shores, and flowering in the montli of June or July. This useful reed prevents the wnad from dispersing the sand over the contiguous fields, which, by ne-f glefting its propagation by seed, are not unfrequently renda-ed, use- less. The Dutch have availed themselves of tlais advantage; and, for the same reason, Queen Eli- zabeth wisely proliibited the ex- tirpation of this beneficial vegeta- ble. It is at present cultivated 011 the Norfolk coast, with a view to pi-event the irruption of the sea : the-inhabitants of Newboroagh, in the Isle of Anglesea, manufadure it Into mats -and ropes, whence they obtain their chief support. — In Denmark, the librous roots of the Sea Mat weed are ehiployed for making whisk-brushes ; and the Icelanders colle6t and dry the seeds; from which, after reducing them to powdef, a palatable bread is prepared, fes^mbling iti taste the meal of malt. MATWEED, the Small, HEATH-MATWEED,OrMAT-GRASS, Nardus stricla, L. an indigenous perennial plant, growing on moist heaths sfiid marshes; flowering from June to August. — It is eatea by horses and goats, but dishked by cows and sheep. This species is often ti troubled- some weed, as well on arabte lands as on pa>tures) where if af- fords but coarse food to cattle : a"B it, however, forms large and thick tafts, which resist the action of tftfe scythe, it nKay be usefully traiig- N 'planted