The Description.

            1. Canary Seed, or Canary Grass after some, hath many small hairy roots, from which arise small strawy stalks jointed like corn, whereupon do grow leaves like those of Barley, which the whole plant doth very well resemble. The small chaffy ear groweth at the top of the stalk, wherein is contained small seeds like those of Panic, of a yellowish colour, and shining.

            2. Shakers, or Quaking Grass groweth to the height of half a foot, and sometimes higher, when it groweth in fertile meadows. The stalk is very small and benty, set with many grassy leaves like the common meadow grass, bearing at the top a bush or tuft of flat scaly pouches, like those of Shepherds Purse, but thicker, of a brown colour, set upon the most small and weak hairy foot-stalks that may be found, whereupon those small pouches do hang: by means of which small hairy strings, the knaps which are the flowers do continually tremble and shake, in such sort that it is not possible with the most steadfast hand to hold it from shaking.

Fig. 147. Pearl Grass (3)

            3. There is also another Grassy plant which may fitly be referred to these: the leaves and stalks resemble the last described, but the heads are about the length and bredth of a small Hop, and handsomely compact of light scaly films much like thereto; whence some have termed it Gramen Lupuli glumis. The colour of this pretty head when it cometh to ripeness is white.

The Place.

            1. Canary Seed groweth naturally in Spain, and also in the Fortunate or Canary Islands, and doth grow in England or any other of these cold regions, if it be sown therein.

            2. Quaking Phalaris groweth in fertile pastures, and in dry meadows.

            3. This grows naturally in some parts of Spain; and it is sown yearly in many of our London Gardens.

The Time.

            1 & 3. These Canary Seeds are sown in May, and are ripe in August.

The Names.

            1. Canary Seed, or Canary corn is called of the Grecians and the Latins retaining the same name Phalaris: in the Islands of Canary, Alpisti: in English, Canary Seed, and Canary grass.

            2. Phalaris pratensis is called also Gramen tremulum: in Cheshire about Nantwich, Quakers and Shakers; in some places, Cow-quakes.

            3. This by some is termed Phalaris altera: Clusius calleth it Gramen Amourettes majus: Baubine, Gramen tremulum maximum: In English they call it Pearl-Grass, and Garden-Quakers.

The Nature and Virtues.

            I find not anything set down as touching the temperature of Phalaris, notwithstanding it is thought to be of the nature of Millet.

            A. The juice and seed, as Galen saith, are thought to be profitably drunk against the pains of the bladder. Apothecaries for want of Millet do use the same with good success in fomentations; for in dry fomentations it serveth instead thereof, and is his succedaneum, or quid pro quo. We use it in England also to feed the Canary birds.