FAMILY HERBAL. Ill 



we do not much regard it, in hemp, spinage, and 

 many others. 



The fruit of the date is the only part used. It 

 is as thick as a man's thumb and nearly as long, of 

 a sweet taste, and composed of a juicy pulp, in a 

 tender skin, with a stone within it. They are 

 strengthening and somewhat astringent, but we do 

 not much use them. 



Devil's Bit. Succisa. 



A WILD plant in our meadows, with slender 

 stalks, and globous flowers, [t grows two feet 

 high. The stalks are round, firm, and upright, 

 and divided into several branches : they have two 

 little leaves at each joint. The flowers are as big 

 as a small walnut, and composed of many little ones; 

 their colour is very strong and beautiful. The 

 leaves which grow from the root arc four inches 

 long, an inch broad, obtuse, of a dark green, and a 

 little hairy, not at all divided, or so much as in- 

 dented at the edges. The roots are white, and com- 

 posed of a thick head, which terminates abruptly 

 as if it had been bitten or broken off, and. of a 

 multitude of fibres. The Devil, as old women say, 

 bit itawav, envying mankind its virtues. 



The leaves are to be gathered before the stalks 

 appear. They are good against coughs, and the 

 disorders of the lungs, given in decoction. The 

 root dried and given in powder, promotes sweat, 

 and is a good medicine in fevers, but we neglect it. 



Dill. Anethum. 



An umbelliferous plant, kept in our gardens, 

 principally for the use of the kitchen. The stalk 

 15 round, striated, hollow, upright, three fee^ high. 



