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BOOK the Second.

Of ROOTS.

PREFACE.

I Under/land, by the Rooty that Tart of the "Plant -which is in the Earth, and whichdraws in the Nutrition, and communicates it to other Parts produced from thence, asthe Stalk, the Leaves, the Seed, &C. The Roots which we commonly fell, are notonly many in Number, but very different in Figure and Virtue. Our Her bar ift s fupply uswith many Roots, which require no other Preparation than to be clean d and dryd, which isJometimes well, and fometimes ill, according to the Capacities of the Herb-Dealers ; fuchas Enula Campana Roots, Marfh-mallows, Lilly Roots, and the like. We have othersbrought from Foreign Countries, Part of which are very fibrous or firing"), hard and ufelejs,as Turbith, Baftard Turbith, White Didamny, &c. which are feparated from theRoot, as is praclis'd upm feveral Roots in France, as Cinquefoil, &c. We haveothers brought to us cut into Filets, as Jalap, Mechoacan $ in little Bits, as the LejfirGalingal ; in larger Sticks, as Rhubarb, Rhapontick ; the entire Root, w Angelica ;fame adorn d with their Leaves, as the Virginia Snake-Root; others are b:>ught in longffringy Fibres, as Sarfapari.la : And, lafl of all, fame are wafh'd and cleans'd from their,outward Skins, as Squilis, Florentine Orris, and the like.

There is no lefs Difficulty in the Knowledge of Roots than of Seeds, as well by reafon oftheir different Kinds, as the many Dtftinclions which are common among one another. 'Thfur this Reafon -we ought to be very circumfpetl in our Choice, and know the main Difiin-clions cf every one, to make an exacl Judgment of them, which is difficult to bo done with-out Prailice, and where a Man does not make it his continual Bufinefis. ihtjt who wantRoots, ought not to go about hunting for the befi Bargains, but apply themfelves to fuch Mer-chants in whofe Probity they can put their Confidence, tho', upon the whole Matter, the Priceis a very confiderabie thing.

Thofe Ptrjons who value not their Confidence, make m Scruple at all to fell one Thing foranother, and ask as much for an Ounce of what is demanded of them, as they woud Jell aPound of the fame Drugjor\ as fiome People /e//Tormentil for Contrayetva. Is it notlikewife as profitable to charge the feveral Sorts of dryd Drugs at an higher Price, bec.zafemofi S vis of RMts are fubjetl to be Worm-eaten, as Angelica, the Acorus Verus. C a*and to waflt and be fpoil'd, as Rhubarb, and the like,

£. 0/