332 FLORA HISTORIC.*.. 



where the soil is wet these plants do not prosper, 

 as they are apt to rot during the winter ; but in 

 good light earth, and in warm situations, the Man- 

 drake root will continue sound longer than the life 

 of man. The Mandrake should never be removed 

 after it has arrived at any considerable size, as it is 

 hardly possible to take it up without breaking the 

 lower fibres, which so stints the plant, that, although 

 it may live, it seldom recovers its former strength. 



Pliny observes that, for medicinal purposes, the 

 root should be taken up about the time of vintage, 

 as it is then fullest of its powerful juice. The same 

 author observes that in some countries they eat the 

 fruit or berries of this plant; but those who do 

 not understand the manner of preparing them 

 sometimes lose their tongue, and become dumb 

 after eating them. 



We learn, both from ancient and modern writers, 

 that the Mandrake root is an anodyne and sopo- 

 rific of a dangerous nature if not administered with 

 with great judgment, as it has been known to ex- 

 cite maniacal fury, and has sometimes proved to be 

 a mortal narcotic. The berries have, however, 

 been eaten without producing this effect ; but we 

 cannot help condemning all such idle experiments, 

 since it is known that the seeds certainly possess 

 deleterious qualities. 



Most of the ancient writers on plants assure us 



