"Mary Fisher" wrote in message
. net...

"ned" wrote in message
...

"Mary Fisher" wrote in message
. net...

"ned" wrote in message
...

I think the comfort of Ladies Bedstraw came from the aroma which
masked the domestic odours of them long gone days.
:-)

I've been away for a week but I'm interested in what 'domestic
odours' you
think would need masking and in which days?

Mary

This is the stuff of myth and legend - bit before even my time.
I am given to understand that - in days of yore, before Fairy Snow,
Laundromats and body deodorants, when the hay filled mattresses of the
time became a bit, er, 'rank', ladies were given to adding Galium
aparine to the mattress to 'freshen' the bedding, hence 'Ladies
bedstraw'.

I can't see why mattresses should become any more 'rank' than they do now.

And in any case, iin my experience, man smell more than women.

I don't think my sense of smell is any better or worse than my wifes!

I doubt that your absence of a week would justify you having to test
the theory.

Well, I was excusing myself for joining the subject late but in fact we've
been in wet Wales in our tiny 1960s caravan with original foam
cushions/mattress. Because we both sweat a lot and ventilation under the
bed is less than perfect the bedding does become less pleasant than I
like.

I always used to put a thick layer of newpaper under the cushions in my
first van which had a solid base to the bed, that helped a lot with soaking
up the moisture.

I bring home all the loose bedding after every trip for laundering. This
time I've also brought home the measurements of the cushions/mattress too
and shall buy some new foam and cover them. Spouse is going to make a
ventilated support in the hope that I shan't need to air the c/m every
morning and that they stay fresh. I doubt that lady's bedstraw would
help - it would go as mouldy as would any vegetable matter under those
conditions.

I don't think I would want to try either lady's or gent's bedstraw!

Alan