Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 305, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 December 1915 — Greeks Treasured Alyssum. [ARTICLE]

Greeks Treasured Alyssum.

Ancient Greeks thought the aneeetors of sweet alyssum had some power to atop hiccoughs; also to cure mad dogs. If the Greeks were right, the flower has changed somewhat. About the only thing it Is used for now is to decorate a garden border, a window box or a hanging basket It does more than decorate, too. Its fragrance has made it a favorite at the bees, and also given it its name. The flower has another name—mad wort; so called, probably, from the Greek belief that it enured dogs of their madness. It grows low, with tiny white blossoms in spikes at the tops of the stems. Flowers of the alyssum are not aO white. There is one variety with bright yellow flowers which blossoms early in the spring.