60 
NAT. ORDER. — GENTIANE^. 
may remain here two years, by which time they will be fit to trans- 
plant where they are designed to grow, removing them in the 
autumn as soon as their leaves decay ; great care should then be 
taken in digging them up, not to cut or break their roots, as that 
greatly weakens them. They require afterwards no other culture 
but to dig the ground about them early in the spring, before they 
begin to shoot, and in the summer to keep them clean from weeds. 
The roots continue many years, but the stalks decay every autumn ; 
the same roots not flowering for two years together, or seldom oftener 
than every third. When they flower strong, they have, however, a 
very fine and elegant appearance. 
The first mentioned sort is mostly propagated by olT-setts, or part- 
ing the roots, and planting them where they are to remain in the 
early autumn ; but in order to have the plants flower well they must 
not be often transplanted or parted. They are also capable of being 
raised from the seeds managed as the first sorts. They all succeed 
the most perfectly in moist loamy soils, where there is a degree of 
shade. 
All the sorts are useful as ornamental plants, for the various 
clumps, borders and quarters of pleasure-grounds ; those of low 
growth being planted towards the fronts, and the latter kinds more 
backward. 
Medical Properties and Uses. The roots of these plants have a 
mucilaginous and sweetish taste, followed by an intense bitterness 
like that of the officinal gentian. They contain amarne, extractive 
mucilage^ resin, sugar, oil, and the principle Gentia, which is solua- 
ble in water and alcohol, as well as all the active parts ; the solu- 
tions are more bitter than the root in substance ; no astringency. 
The most active properties are tonic, antiseptic, corroborant, cathar- 
tic, &c. They are very little inferior to the officinal gentian in 
strength and efficacy, they invigorate the stomach, and are very 
useful in the treatment of debility of the stomach and the digestive 
organs ; they increase the appetite, prevent the acidification of food. 
