108 FAMILY HERBAL. 



virtues. The leaves are oblong,, broad, and ob- 

 tuse. The stalks are three or four incbes high, 

 and have no leaves. The flowers grow one on 

 eaeh stalk, and are of the breadth of a shilling, and 

 whitish or reddish. The root is composed of a 

 vast quantity of fibreu. 



The roots fresh gathered and given in a strong 

 decoction, are excellent against the scurvy; the 

 use of them must be continued some time., but the 

 event will make amends for the trouble. People 

 give these roots boiled in milk to keep puppies from 

 growing, but they have no such effects. 



Dandelion. Dcnslconis. 



ANOTHER of our wild plants too common to 

 need much description. The leaves are very long, 

 somewhat broad, and deeply indented at the edges. 

 The stalks are naked, hollow, green, upright, and 

 six, eight, or ten inches high ; one flower stands 

 on each, which is large, yellow, and composed of 

 a great quantity of leaves, and seeds which follow 

 this, have a downy matter affixed to them. The 

 whole head of them appears globular. The root 

 is long, large, and white. The whole plant is full 

 of a milky juice, the root most of all. This runs 

 from it when broken, and is bitterish but not dis- 

 agreeable. 



The root fresli gathered and boiled, makes an 

 excellent decoction to promote urine,, and bring 

 away gravel. The leaves may be eaten as salad 

 when very young, and if taken this way in suf- 

 iicient quantity, they are good against the scurvy, 



Red Darnell. Lolium riibrum. 



A WILD grass, very common about way-sides, 



