374 APPENDIX. 



The 



and they will be found upon trial more suffi 

 for that purpose, than we at present imagine, 

 iucansare at hand^ but we have made very litfle 

 use of thenij proportioned to their number and 

 their value. 



The observation already made> that the exter^ 

 nal form of plants may very well give the hint 



ecture about their virtues, is much more 



coo 



general than might be iraagiued. Almost all 

 the plants of the same kinds are of the same vir- 

 tues. But that is not all : for in general, those 

 of the same class possess the same qualities ; 

 though different in degree: and this is a prodigi- 

 ous help to him, who shall set out upon the gene* 

 rous and useful plan of adding to the uTiraber of 

 the useful plants. It is also singular^ that what 

 might appear objections in this case, being brought 



to the trial, will ofteu be found confirmations of 

 the truth there is in the observation. 



Thus suppose a man, observing that lettuce is 

 eatable, should inquire into all the plants like 

 lettuce, which are those that have flowers com- 

 posed of many parts, and have the seeds winged 

 with a white downy matter, to find whether they 

 were eatable; let u» examine how he would suc- 

 ceed. The plants of this class native of England, 

 are the sowthistle^ the hawkweeds^ the dandelions^ 

 goats-beards, succory, and endive, all eatables. 

 The hawkweeds are less agreeable in the taste, 

 but wholesome ; and as to the wild lettuces, those 

 who would bring the opiate quality of the prin- 

 cipal of them as an objection, strengthen the ob- 

 servation; for the garden lettuce also has an opi- 

 Me quality. This wild one possesses it in a great- 

 er degree, but still in such degree, that it is an 

 excellent medicine, not at all dangerous. Its 

 bitter taste would prevent people's eating it, for 



