FAMILY HERBAL. 281 



and distinguished by its ragged leaves, and clusters 

 of yellow flowers. It is two feet high. The stalk 

 is robust, round, striated, and often purplish. The 

 leaves are divided in an odd manner, into several 

 parts, so that they look torn or ragged ; their co- 

 lour is a dark dusky green, and they grow to the 

 stalk without any foot-stalk, and are broad and 

 rounded at the end. The (lowers arc moderately 

 large and yellow, and the tops of the branches are 

 so covered with them, that they often spread toge- 

 ther to the breadth of a plate. The whole plant has 

 a disagreeable smell. The root is fibrous, and the 

 seeds arc downy. 



The fresh leaves are used : but it is best to take 

 those that rise immediately from the root, for they are 

 larger and more juicy than those on the stalk : they 

 are to be mixed in pultices, and applied outwardly 

 as a remedy against pains in the joints : they have a 

 surprising effect. It is said that, two or three times 

 applied, they will cure the sciatica, or hip gout, when 

 ever so violent. 



Raspberry B^sh. Rubus idceus. 



A little shrub, common in our gardens, but wild 

 also in some parts of the kingdom. The stalks are 

 round, weak, tender, of a pale brown, and prickly. 

 The leaves arc each composed of five others : they 

 are large, of a pale green, indented about the edges, 

 and hairy. The flowers are little, and of a whitish 

 colour, with a great quantity of threads in the mid- 

 dle. The fruit is the common raspberry, composed 

 like the blackberry of several grains : it is soft to the 

 touch, and of a delicate taste. The colour varies, 

 for white ones are common. 



The juice of ripe raspberries, boiled up with 

 sugar, makes an excellent syrup. It is pleasant, and 



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