xxii INTRODUCTION. 



> - . 



a Drawer, prefling them clofe down, and covered 

 with Paper. When the intire Plant is to be ufed 

 except the Root, Care is to be taken that It be 

 gathered at a proper Seafon. Nature in the whole 

 Growth of Plants, tends to the Produdion of their 

 Flowers and Seeds, but when they are ripe, the 

 reft begins to decay, having done its Duty ; fo 

 that the Time when the intire Plant is in its moft 

 full Perfection, is when it is in the End •, when 

 the Heads are formed for flowering, but not a 

 fmgle Flower has yet difclofed itfclf : This is the 

 exa(fl Time. 



When Herbs are to be ufed freflj, it is bed not 

 to take them intire, but only to cut off the Tops ; 

 three or four Inches long, if for Infufion ; and if 

 for other Purpofes, lefs : If they are to be beaten 

 up with Sugar, they Ihould be only an Inch, or lefs : 

 Juft as far as they are frefh and tender.' The Tops 

 of the Plant thus gathered, are always preferable 

 to the whole Plant for immediate Ufe; 



F " 



When the intire Herb is to be dried, the Seafon 

 for gathering it is to be as juft defcribed, when 



the Flowers are buding; and the Time of the 

 Day muft be when the Morning Dew is dried 

 away. This is a very material Circumftance, for 

 if they be cut wet with the dew, Herbs will not 

 dry well, and if they be cut at Noon-Day, when 

 the Sun has made the Leaves fxag, they will not 



have their fi 



: Care muft alfo be taken, to cut them in a dry 

 Dayj for tlie Wet of Rain will do as much harm. 



of Dew 



i 



^ When the Herbs are thus gathered, they are to 

 be looked over, the decayed Leaves picked off, 

 and the dead Ends of the Stalks cut away • They 

 ajre then to be tied up in fmall Bunches, the ith 

 the bett-r ; and hung upon Lines .drawn acrofs a 



iioom, where the Wir.do}vs and Doors are to be 



keot 



