IJ^^ T R O D U C T I O N. 



i" . 



In fome only the Leaves are to be ufed, m 

 others the whole Plant cut from the Root, in o* 



thcrs the Flowers only, in others the Fruits, in 

 others the Seeds, \\\ fome the Roots, and of fome 

 Trees the Barks, fdme the Woods, and or 

 the Excrefcences of- others j while fome Vegeta 

 h\z^ are to be ufed intire^ whether it be frefb ga- 

 thered, or dried and prefei-ved. Of all thefe, 

 Inftances will be given in great Number in the 

 following Sheets, and the Matter will be fpecified 

 under each Article, as the Fart of the Plant to 

 be ufed will always be named 3 and it will be ad- 

 ded, whether it be befl freib, or beft or necelTarily 



dried or otherwife preferred j but it will be proper 

 in this Place to enter into the full Examination of 

 this Matter, to fave unnecefFary Repetitions un- 

 der tjie feveral particular Articles. 



The whole of moft Plants, native of our Coun- 

 tr}% dies off in Winter, except the Root; and in 

 many that periflies alfo, leaving the Species to be 

 renewed from the fallen Seeds. When the whole 



Plant dies, the Root is feldom^f any Virtue; but 



when the Root remains many Years, and fends 

 up new Shoots in the Sprng, It commonly 'has 

 great Virtue. This may be a general Rule : For 

 there is very little to be expecfled in the Roots 

 of annual Plants : Tlieir Seeds for the moft Part 

 contain their greateft Virtues. 



In others, the Root lives through the Winter, 

 and there arife from it large Leaves in the Spring, 

 before tlie Stalk appears. Thefe are to be diftift- 

 guilhed from thofe which afterwards grow on the 

 Stalk, for they are more juicy, and for many Pur- 

 pofes much better. In the fame Manner, fome 

 PIftnts, from cheir Seeds dropped in Autumn, pro- 

 duce a Root and Leaves which" ftand all the 

 Winter, and the Stalk does not rife till the fuc- 



ceedins: 



