32 FAMILY HERBAL. 



Beet. Beta alba. 



A COMMON garden plant eaten at our ta- 

 bles, but these often afford medicines as well as 

 food. The white beet, -which is the medicinal 

 kind, grows three or four feet high. The stalk 

 is robust and strong, the leaves are broad and 

 undulated, the flowers are inconsiderable, they 

 .are of a greenish white colour ; the root is large 

 and long. 



The juice of fresh beet-root is an excellent 

 remedy for the head-ach, and tooth-ach when 

 the whole jaw is affected ; it is to be snuffed up 

 the nose to promote sneezing. 



The red beet- root is good for the same pur- 

 pose, but it is not so strong as the white. 



White Beken. Belien album. 



A COMMON wild plant in our corn fields. It 

 is two feet high ; the stalks are weak and often 

 crooked ; but they are thick enough, round, and 

 of a whitish green colour. The leaves arc oblong, 

 broad, and of a fine blue green colour, not dent- 

 ed at all at the ed<res, and they crow two at 

 every joint ; the joints of the stalks where they 

 grow, arc swelled and large, and the leaves have 

 no stalks. The flowers are white, moderately 

 large, and pricklv. They stand upon a husk which 

 seems blown up with wind. 



This is one of those plants of our own growth, 

 that have more virtue fliau people imagine. The 

 root, which is long, white, and woody, is to be 

 gathered before the stalks rise, and dried. An 

 infusion is one of the best remedies known for 

 nervous complaints : it will not take place against 



