182 New Principles of Gardening. 
natum, or Solomon's Seal, and the other called Polygonatum 
Minus, the {mall Solomon's Seal. 
2. Their Defcription. 
The firft kind of Solomon Seal hath long round Stalks, which 
for the moft part, are adorn’d with long furrow’d and rib’d Leaves, 
very like in form unto thofe of P/antane, which are generally 
placed all on one fide of the Stalk, with very {mall white Flowers, 
refembling the Flowers of Lily Conval. On the other fide 
when the Flowers are faded, there appear round Berries of a 
green Colour, which afterwards turn to a very dark or blackifh 
blue, which when ripe, are as large as-Hotfpur Peafe, and 
of an exceeding fweet and pleafant Tafte: The Root is of a 
white Colour, and very full of Knobs or Joints clofe fet to- 
gether, which in fome Places have very odd Marks, that the 
Ancients {uppofed to be the refemblance of an Impreflion or 
Mark of a Seal, from which it took the Name of Sigillum 
Solomonis ; its Tafte is {weet at firft, and of a fharp Bitter at latt, 
The fecond kind of Solomon Seal, differs but very little 
from the preceding, excepting in the Leaves which are nar- 
rower, and are placed round about the Stalk; and-not on one 
fide only as the other. The form of the Flowers are the fame, 
but are of a light green Colour, and are fucceeded by Berries, 
as the former, but of a reddifh Colour. The Root is like untae 
the former, having fome few Fibres breaking out-of its Joints, 
3. Their Temperature and Virtues. 
Diofcorides makes mention, that the Roots of Solomon Seal 
are excellent good to feal or clofe up green Wounds, being 
ftamp’d and laid thereon; whereupon he faith it was called Si- 
Lillum Solomonis, of the fingular Virtue that it hath in heal- 
ing of Wounds, broken Bones, ce. LA? ett 
~The frefh Roots of Solomon Seal being ftamp’d and applied 
to any Briife, black or blue Spots acquired by Falls, dye. 
take them away in one night or two at motft. 
- Galen was of the Opinion, that neither the Herb or Root 
fhould be given inwardly ; but People of lefs Capacity fince his 
time have experienc’d the contrary; for in Hampfbire and many 
other Places, ’tis adminifter'd inwardly with great Safety ; For 
When any unhappy Accident happen’d, fuch as Brnifes, broken 
2 ones, 
