VI. INTRODUCTION. 



the barks ; some the >\ood6 ; and onlj tlie excresen- 

 ces of others: while some vegetables are to be 

 used entire^ whether it be fresh gathered^ or dried 

 and preserved. Of all these, instances will be 

 given in great number in the followinsj sheefs^ 



and the matter will be specified under each articse, 

 as the part of the plant to be used will always be 

 named ; and it will be added whether it be best 

 fresh, or best or necessarily dried or otherwise 

 preserved ; but it will be proper in this place to 

 enter into the full examination of this matter, 

 to save unnecessary repetitions under the several 

 particular articles. 



The whole of most plants native of our coun- 

 trvj dies off in winter^ except the root ; and in 



many that perishes also^ leaving the species to be 

 renewed from the fallen seeds. When the whole 

 plant dieSj the root is seldom of any virtue ; but 

 when the root remains many years, and sends up 

 new shoots in the spring, it commonly has great 

 virtue. This may be a general rule : for there 

 is very little to be expected in the roots of annual 

 plants : their seeds^ for the most part, contain their 

 greatest virtues. 



In others, the root lives through the winter, and 

 there arise from it large leaves iu the sprir>g, be- 

 fore the stalk appears. These are to be distinguish- 

 ed from those which afterwards grow on the stalk, 

 for they are more juicy, and for many^ purposes 

 much better. In the same manner, some plants, 

 from their seeds dropped in autumn, produce a 

 root and leaves which stand all the winter, and 

 the stalk does not rise till the succeeding spring. 

 These are of the nature of those le^v^s, which 

 rise from the root of other plants before the stalk? 

 in spring ; and are in the same manner to be dis- 



tingnished from those which grow upon the stalks ; 



