FAMILY HERBAL. 153 



burnt for its fixed salt, which is used in making 



glass. 



Goat's Beard. Tragopogon. 



A common wild plant, distinguished in our 

 meadows by its narrow and fresh green leaves, and 

 the long leaves of the cup, about its yellow flowers. 

 It grows (o a foot and a half in height. The leaves 

 are very narrow ; they are broadest at the base, 

 and smaller all the way to the point. The stalk is 

 round, thick, firm, very upright, and towards the 

 top divided into two or three branches. The 

 flowers stand at the extremities of the stalks; they 

 are of a beautiful pale yellow, very large and sur- 

 rounded by a cup, composed of long and narrow 

 green leaves, which, for the greatest part of the 

 day, are closed over it, so that it seems only in bud. 

 The seeds arc winged with a fine white down, in 

 the manner of those of dandelion, and, when ripe, 

 they stand upon the tops of the branches, in a 

 round head, in the same manner. The root is long 

 and white ; and the whole plant is full of a milky 

 juice, which, after it has been a little time ex- 

 posed to the air, becomes yellow, end thick like 

 cream. 



The root is used. It is so pleasant in taste, that 

 it may Ik 1 eaten in the manner of carrots, and other 

 roots at table, but it exceeds them all in its qualities. 

 It is an excellent restorative, and will do great 

 service to people after long illness : the best way 

 of giving it for this purpose, is to boil it first in 

 water, and then, cutting it to pieces, boil it again 

 in milk, which is to be rendered palatable in the. 

 usual way ; it becomes thus a must excellent medi- 

 cine in the form of food. 



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