46 
THE CARR.OT. 
and deleterious effects on the human constitu- 
tion. Here we have an illustration of the ex- 
treme importance of a familiar acquaintance 
with plants — especially wild plants — by per- 
sons of every class. The Dulcamara was for- 
merly much esteemed as a powerful medicine. 
The stipites, or younger branches, are the 
parts directed for use ; these should be 
gathered in the autumn, and used either 
when fresh, or after being dried. It is prin- 
cipally used in the form of a decoction,or watery 
infusion, sometimes under that of extract. It 
has been stated to possess discutient and 
resolvent powers ; and is also diaphoretic. 
"Trained to a single stem, and supported by 
a stout iron rod with a parasol-like top, this 
common hedge weed might form a very hand- 
some gardenesque pendulous tree ; or it might 
cover a domical bower." ( Loudon.) 
Solatium nigrum {half natural size.) 
Solanum nigrum, (the black or garden Night- 
shade,) is a low annual weed, growing about 
two feet high, common in waste places all 
over the world. It is a bushy, fetid herb, 
with numerous angular branching herbaceous 
stems, and ovate leaves, obtusely dentate, or 
wavy, and undivided. The flowers are white, 
in umbels from the intermediate spaces be- 
tween the leaves ; they have a musky scent. 
The berries are globular, black, (reported to 
be sometimes yellow,) and shining. There 
is a variety called miniatum, which has more 
deeply-toothed leaves, and red berries ; this 
latter is found in Jersey. The plant appeal's 
to possess the deleterious qualities of the 
other Nightshades in a very high degree ; it is 
narcotic, and its extract is said to possess 
nearly the same power as lettuce-opium, even 
its smell is said to cause sleep. It was 
formerly employed as a discutient, and used as 
an anodyne, and when bruised applied either 
in poultices or baths to painful wounds. 
Besides these British species, there are 
several others used medicinally. S. panicu- 
latum, a shrubby species with bluish white 
flowers, is much esteemed as a deobstru- 
ent in Brazil, where it is called Juripeba. 
S. Jacquini is considered by the native prac- 
titioners in India as an expectorant. The 
juice of S. bahamense is administered in the 
West Indies as a gargle, in cases of sore 
throat. S. mammcsum is said to be bitter, 
and a valuable diuretic. S. cernuurn, a shrub 
or tree in Brazil, is also employed ; a decoc- 
tion of the flower and leaves is said to be a 
powerful sudorific. And in Demerara, a 
spinose species called Barabara is reported 
to be an antidote to the bite of the rattle- 
snake. 
THE CARROT. 
The cultivated Carrot, in its several va- 
rieties, is only a highly improved state of 
the wild Carrot, (Daucus Carota,) a biennial 
weed, common in pastures and by the sides of 
hedges, especially on a chalky soil. However 
strange it may appear at first sight, that the 
thick fleshy root of the garden Carrot should 
result from the thin, woody, and harsh root of 
an almost worthless weed, yet that such is the 
case has been recently proved by raising 
plants from wild seed, although Miller, about 
a century ago, was not able to effect any alter- 
ation in the original plant. But in 1833, 
M. Vilmorin, of Paris, by repeated sowings 
at length succeeded in obtaining some plants 
with more fleshy roots, about half a dozen, but 
only from the summer sowing, as all sown 
earlier had run to seed. These roots were 
carefully preserved and replanted the follow- 
ing season ; and in 1839, the fourth gene- 
ration produced good sized Carrots. The 
process of amelioration will be seen by the 
following statement : — -First generation, Jive 
or six roots from amongst a large number, 
very indifferent, ill formed, but tolerably 
fleshy. Second generation, about a fifth part of 
the crop was tolerably good, middle sized and 
small. Third generation, proportion of good 
roots about two-thirds, and they had increased 
considerably in size. Fourth generation, form 
improved and refuse of crop not exceeding 
one-tenth. Of course only the most promising 
roots were planted for seed, but still the rate 
of improvement was very rapid, and M. 
Vilmorin has stated nothing that the appear- 
ance of his roots did not fully bear out. In 
colour the l'oots varied throuadi all the shades 
from white to yellow, orange and purple, 
thus plainly indicating how easy it is to mul- 
tiply varieties of vegetables. 
