C ^94 ] 



I take mine up, clean it from all dirt, and lay it m 

 the fhade, under a flied for two or three days, 

 where, without becoming ihri veiled, it will lofe 

 by degrees the exuberant moifture it had when re- 

 cent from the earth. If it be expofed too fuddenly 

 to heat, either natural or artificial, or a very drying 

 air, the root grows wrinkled, and is always horny 

 or flinty. 



Herein lies the chief difficulty; for when it is 

 once well prcferved thus far, it is fafe : you may 

 afterwards finifh the procefs of curing, fo it be 

 done gradually, in any manner you may chufc, 

 with fuccefs. 



I cannot hold with barking or flicing the root, 

 becaufe, by the too eafy admiflion of fun or air, 

 great part of that refinous and glutinous matter, 

 which I apprehend to be the richeft part of the 

 root, is drained off and evaporated; and which, 

 under cover of the bark, would by^^-degrees con- 

 denfe and harden with the root itfelf. You will, 

 therefore, I am fatisfied, find roots fo cured to be 

 of a much better texture, and richer quality, than 

 thofe that are barked. The older the root, the 

 better it is for curing. 



I am, your^s, &c, 



O^. 17, 1778. G. P. 



