SALEP. 159 



the root of this that the starchy substance brought 

 from the Levant is supposed to be prepared. 



This article of commerce comes to us in pieces of 

 an oval form, very hard, approaching to transpar- 

 rency, and of a yellowish white colour Although 

 this substance has been for so long a time imported 

 from a distant market, the plant from which it is 

 prepared is furnished spontaneously, and in great 

 abundance, in many parts of our own country. The 

 Turkey roots are, however, much finer than ours ; 

 which may account for the greater esteem in which 

 they are held. 



The plant consists of a root composed of two 

 fleshy lobes, crowned with oblong, broad, spotted 

 leaves, and having upright stalks growing to the 

 height of twelve inches, furnished with one or two 

 narrow leaves, and terminated by a long spike of 

 reddish purple flowers, which exhale a very slight 

 agreeable odour ; these commonly appear in the 

 months of May, June, and July. The soil best 

 adapted to its growth is that which is dry and not 

 very fertile. It is worthy of remark that in rich 

 lands, and those which have been highly manured, 

 the orchidese do not come to maturity ; where the 

 experiment has been tried, the roots of the few plants 

 that did appear proved black, and were half rotted 

 in the ground. The stem is sent up by the lobe of a 

 former year, and the new lobe, which is therefore 

 easily distinguishable from the old one, is formed in 

 the course of the summer as the tubers of potatoes. 

 The root is known to be fully matured when the leaves 

 and stalk begin to decay ; the plants may then be 

 dug up, and the new lobes from which alone salep 

 is made separated from the others. 



Many methods have been proposed for preparing 

 ealep. In the performance of the one among those 

 methods which appear to be the simplest and best, 



