z. INTRODUCTION. 



as Useful for families,, as the nature of such an 

 one will admit. 



Among the fruits of plants, several are to be 

 used fresh, as the hip for conserve, and the 

 quince, mulberry, and black currant ; from the 

 juices of which, syrups are made. As to those 

 which are to be dried, as the juniper berries, the 

 bay berries, and the like, they are only to be ga- 

 thered when just ripening, not when quite mel- 

 low, and spread upon a table or floor, often 

 turning them till they are dry. But of these 

 we use very few of our own growth ; most of the 

 fruits used in medicine are brought from abroad, 

 and must be purchased of the druggist or apothe- 

 cary. 



With respect to the seeds and plants, it is 

 otherwise : many of them are of our own growth, 

 and nothing is so easy as to preserve them. These 

 are all to be used dry ; but nature has in a man- 

 ner dried them to our hands : for they are not 

 to be gathered till perfectly ripe, and then they 

 need very little farther care. They are only to 

 be spread for three or four days upon a clean floor, 

 where the air has free passage, but where the sun 

 does not come ; and they are then ready to be 

 put up. 



The seeds used in medicine may be referred 

 to three general kinds. They either grow in 

 naked neads or umbels, as in fennel, parsley, and 

 the like ; or in pods, as in mustard and crosses ; 

 or in large fleshy fruits, as in melon and cu- 

 cumbers. In each case they must be left upon 

 the plant till perfectly ripe ; then they are only 

 to be shook from the heads upon the floor, or if 

 in pods, a smart stroke or two of the plant upon 

 the floor, when they are thoroughly ripe, will 



