Mio 
Philofophical History of Plants. 
the Smells of divers Vegetables 3 as betwixt Burne, and a Limon 5 the 
Green: Leaves of Meadow-fmect, and the green Rinds of Walvuts. Or 
betwixt thofe of Plants and Animals; as the Smell of green and well- 
grown Carduus, is like to that rank cent, ab aliquorum axillis fpi- 
ranti, Which have a more fenfible Sell; as moft have; and which 
have Jef, as Corr. Where the green Leaf is the moft Fragrant Parr, 
as in Musk-Cranesbill; wherethe Flower, asin Rofés; the Root, as in 
fweet Calamus, Where all the Parts have fome Odour, where fome, or 
one, only; asin Scrroy-graf, only the Flowers, unleß the Leaves are 
bruisd; and in Aram, the Peftil only 5 for neither the Leaf; nor Root 
hath any smell, unleß cut ; but this is {trong enough, not much unlike 
to Humane Excrements. 3 5 
29. $. But efpecially their Taßes, which it much importeth us 
more precifely to diftinguifh 5 Firff, by their general Kinds 3 forthe 
number,even ofthefe, may be computed greater than ufually itis I 
remember not, that Heat and Acritude, with refpe&t to Taste, are di- 
ftinguifhed; yet Arum-Root is very Pungent, without any proper 
Heat ; and Cloves, are very Hot, without any proper Pungency. So 
the White Roots of Yarrow, have a Taste, hardly any other way per- 
ceptible, than by caufinga gentle glowing and continued Warmth upon 
the Tongue. Allo their Refpondencies oneto another; as that of Ze- 
doary, and of thelefler Cardamons, is fomewhat like to Camphire, 
Likewife their Degrees; in which there is a g latitude, and may 
be extended from One to Tex, or with eafie di inétion, from One to 
Five : So the Root of Sorrel, is Bitter inthe frffs of Dock, in the 
fecond; of Dog-Rofe, in the third; of Dandelyon, in the fourth 5 of Gen- 
‘tian, in the fifth: obferving them, not only as they vary in feveral 
Kinds of Plants, but the feveral Species of one, as in Cichory, Hawke 
weed, Dandelyor. And then their Compofitions; for Tastes are as truly 
conjund in one Part, as Colours : by which, the latitude is (till greater; 
In that all Kinds of Tastes, in all their Degrees, and in differing Num- 
bers, may be varioufly Compounded together: For the molt part, 
s in the Leaves of fharp-pointed Dock, Aftringent, and Sowre 5 
n Sorrel-Roots, Aftringent and Bitter; and in Aloes, Bitter and sweet 5 
the one in the fifth, the other, in the firit Degrees as upon an unpre- 
judiced tryal may be perceived: and yet more evidently in the Gall 
of any Lard-Animal. Sometimes three, as in Agrimony, Bitter,Rough, 
and Sowrifh; and in Agarick Bitter Rough, and Sweet. And fometimes, 
perhaps more. The Senfible diftin&ions of all which, may lye almoft 
as wide, as of Plants themfelves, Wherefore, although it may be 
thought raíbnefi, to take away the diftinétions of Hot, Cold, Moift, 
Dry, Thin, Groß, and other Qualities, in their feveral Degree,which 
the Ancients have affixed to particular Plants: yet fince they have 
done it, to many of them, with much uncertainty 5 and that, withal, 
they are, more properly, the Efès and Operations of Plants, than their 
alites 5 Prafrical Obfervation, may therefore approve it ufeful, to 
add thefe Senfible Ones of various Taftes, precifely diftinguifhing their 
Conjugations and Degrees. Laftly, their feveral Varieties and Mutati- 
ons, with reípeét to the Subjeét wherein they refide, fhould alfo be 
noted, As, of all Taffes found in Plants, Bitter and Sowr, are moft 
commons Sweet and Salt, moft rare: Which latter, isnot only per- 
ceptible in fome Sea-Plants3 but upon fome others, as upon the frefh 
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