36 FAMILY HERBAL 



singlv, not in pairs, and are of a pale green co- 

 lour. The Mowers are of ike breadth of a crown- 

 piece at the mouth, and narrower to the base, beil- 

 fashioned, and perfectly white. The root is long 

 and slender. 



In Northamptonshire the poor people use the root 

 of this plant fresh gathered and boiled in ale as a 

 purgp ; they save the expence of the apothecary, 

 and answer the purpose better than any one thing 

 would do for them. It would nauseate a delicate 

 stomach, but, for people of their strong constitution, 

 there is not a betler purge. 



The Billbekr*' Bush. Vaccinia nigra. 



A LtTTLE tough slmibby plant, common in 

 our boggy woods, and upon wet heaths. The 

 stalks ar<- tough, angular, and green ; the leaves 

 are small ; they stand singly, not in pairs, and 

 are broad, short, and indented about the edges. 

 The flowers are small but pretty, their colour 

 is a faint red, and they are hollow like a cup,. 

 The berries are as large as the biggest pea, they 

 are of a blackish colour, and of a pleasant taste. 



A syrup made oi" the juice of billberries, when 

 not over ripe, is cooling and binding ; it is a plea- 

 sant anil gentle medicine for women whose menses 

 are apt to be too redundant, taken for a week before 

 the time. 



The Birch-Tree. Be'ula. 



A TALL and handsome tree, common in our 

 woods and hedges. The bark i* smooth and 

 white. The young shoots are reddish, and ihev 

 are small and long The leaves are beautiful ; 

 (li*2\ arc short, roundish, of a fine bright irrcjuj, 



