SU APPENDIX. 



and they will be found upon trial inure sufficient 

 for that purpose, than we at present imagine. The 

 means ate at hand, but we have made very little use 

 of them, proportioned to their number and their, 

 value. 



The observation already made, that the exter- 

 nal form of plants may very well give the hint 

 for a conjecture about their virtues, is much more 

 general than might be imagined. Almost all 

 the plants of the same kinds are of the same vir- 

 tues. But that is not all : for in general, those 

 of the same class possess the same qualities ; though 

 different in degree : and this is a prodigious help 

 to him, who shall set out upon the generous and 

 useful plan of adding to the number of the useful 

 plants. It is also singular, that what might appear 

 objections in this case, being brought to the trial, 

 will often be found confirmations of the truth there is 

 in the observation. 



Thus suppose a man, observing that lettuce :s 

 eatable, should inquire into all the plants like 

 lettuce, which are those that have flowers com 

 posed of many parts, and have the seeds winged 

 with a white downy matter, to find whether they 

 were eatable ; let us examine how he would suc- 

 ceed. The plants of this class native of England, 

 are the sowthistle. the hawkweeds, the dandelions, 

 goats beards, succory, and endive, all eatables. 

 The hawkweeds are less agreeable in the taste. 

 but wholesome ; and as to the wild lettuces, those 

 who would bring the opiate quality of the prin- 

 cipal of them as an objection, strengthen the ob- 

 servation ; for the garden lettuce also has an opi- 

 ate quality. This wild one possesses it in a great- 

 er degree, but still in such degree, that it is an 

 excellent medicine, not at all dangerous. Its 

 bitter taste would prevent people's eating it, for 



