MITCHAM I ITS PHYSIC GARDENERS AND PLANTS. 
151 
wild at Esher in Surrey. On inquiring of Mr. Authur, of Mitcham, 
we found that this non-reticulated sub-variety was well known to 
him, though it is not distinguished as a different sort by the herb- 
growers. 
No positive evidence has hitherto been adduced of the supe- 
riority of the biennial over the annual sort ; but the prevailing 
belief is, that the more fully developed, and longer lived plant, 
in all probability, would more perfectly elaborate its peculiar 
juices, than the weaker and shorter lived sort, and on this ground, 
it is presumed to possess greater activity. Although the pre- 
sent Pharmacopoeia (1836) leaves the Pharmaceutist to use either 
sort, the forthcoming new London Pharmacopoeia, it is reported, 
will direct the employment of the biennial variety. 
The biennial plant ought to be gathered for medicinal use dur- 
ing the second year of its growth, at or soon after the commence- 
ment of inflorescence. The leaves at this stage are attached 
to the stem which bears the flowers, and when the plant is entire, 
no mistake can be made, as the leaves of the first year have stalks 
which issue from the ground, as described by Dr. Houlton, and figured 
in the Pharmaceutical Journal, vol. i., p. 406 and 427. Mr. Squire has 
also pointed out the importance of distinguishing between the first and 
second year's leaves. When the stalk is removed the distinction is 
less easy, and the herb, as sold in the market, not unfrequently con- 
tains a mixture of the two kinds. 
Although the above are the general distinctive characters, they 
occasionally merge into each other in individual plants, so that it is 
not always easy to distinguish the varieties or age, especially when 
the plants have been packed for travelling, and when they have been 
partially or entirely dried. Consequently ihe purpose for which the 
first year's leaves are chiefly used is for preparation in a dried state, 
in which they might, on a superficial examination, pass for the second 
years' leaves. Sometimes, however, so little care is taken to dis- 
guise the fact, that the long stalks betray the age of the leaves. 
There is a strong temptation to use *he leaves in this stage of their 
growth, first because they yield a return which would otherwise be 
sacrificed; and secondly, because in brightness of color they surpass 
the mature leaves, and, therefore, attract those whose primary ob- 
ject is to please the eye. But the instructions contained in the 
Pharmacopoeia to select the plant at the time of inflorescence, are 
