The whole is

The

and beaten to a pulp, which is thrown into a large tub of clean water. then well stirred, and the fibrous part wrung out by the hands and thrown away. milky liquor being passed through a hair-sieve, or coarse cloth, is left to settle, when the water is drained off, leaving a white mass, which is again mixed with clean water and drained; the mass is then spread out and dried in the sun, and becomes a pure white flour, which will answer all the purposes of starch. Boiled with milk and water, it is a most nourishing and extremely palateable food, which may be retained by the weakest stomach. It is, for many domestic purposes, preferable to the best wheaten flour, especially in making puddings.

Dr. Wright says a decoction of the fresh roots makes an excellent ptisan in acute discases. Its juice is also said to stop a gangrene, if applied in time, and that with water it is good against all acrid poisons. The Indians call it toulola.

ARSMART.

CL. 8, OR. 3.-Octandria trigynia.

POLYGONUM.

NAT. OR.-Holoracce.

The generic name is derived from two Greek words signifying very knotty, on account of the many knots on the stalks.

GEN. CHAR.-There is no calyx; the corolla is five-parted and calycine, or serving instead of a calyx; the stamens eight short filaments, with roundish incumbent anthers; germen triquetrous, styles short, stigmas simple; there is no pericarpium, but the corolla remains, and surrounds the seed, which is single, triquetrous, and There are many species, three of which grow in this island, the following, and the scandens, commonly called buck-wheat:

acute.

1. PERSICARIA.

Persicaria urens sive hydropiper. Sloane, v. 1, p. 140. Glabrum, floribus hexandris, stylis bifidis, vaginis submuticis. Browne, 212. Flowers hexandrous semidigynous, spikes ovate oblong erect, peduncles even, stipules ciliate.

This grows very commonly on the muddy banks of the Rio Cobre, and sends out from every joint, touching the water or mud, a great many fibrils. The stalk is round, jointed at every inch and a half, each joint inclining a little downwards, and about two feet long. At every joint there is a protuberance, and at it upwards is a half-inch long membrane covering the stalk. The leaves come out at each joint alternatively, on inch-long footstalks, they are eight inches long and two broad where broadest, smooth, and in every thing like English arsmart leaves. The flowers stand on the tops of the branches, spike-fashioned, like in colour to the ordinary persicarias, and to them follows a black, flat, roundish, shining, smooth, seed, having two small prickles or points at each end. It grows by river sides and in moist grounds all over the island, and comes very near, if not altogether the same, as our common European persicaria. Sloane, after giving the foregoing description, cites various authorities for the following virtues which this vegetable is reputed to possess: A fomentation of the leaves takes away old aches and colds of the joints. It is a good caustic, and used in putrid and wormy ulcers for that cause. It takes away hardened tumours, and dissolves congealed blood. The juice kills worms in the ear. Boiled in water, and applied, it carries away bad humours

from

from the eyes. If beaten and applied with the juice, it helps purulent eyes. It takes off spots from the body, if its juice be rubbed on them morning and evening. The juice of the whole plant, except the root, boiled in sergelim cil, is a cephalic liniment, even to be applied to bleedings of the nose. This is also a liniment for the gout. The root, taken with hot water, loosens the belly; and the leaves, given in sour milk, assuage the swellings of the belly and gripings. Flies, gnats, or fleas, come not near this herb or its juice, and, therefore, it is good for ulcers, and keeps these verinin from rooms strewed with it. Some of it put under the saddle, and rubbed on a horse's back, refreshes him when tired.—Sloane.

We have two sorts of arsmart in America, the same as grow in England, one without spots, the other with. It is known, as the great and learned Boyle commends it, as a specific to break the stone and expel the gravel in the reins or bladder, and that by a simple water distilled from this plant; but its juice or essence, in my opinion, is much better, sweetened with a little syrup of marsh-mallows. The root, bruised and applied to an aching tooth, takes away the pain; the juice or essence, mixed with equal quantities of ox-gall, oil of spike, and mustard, well mixed, discusses all cold swellings, scrofulous and schirrous tumors, and whitlows or felons; the essential oil is good for knotty gouts; or this: Take the oil of arsmart (made by infusion), lovage, and shepherd's purse, of each a handful; the heads of five sheep and fifteen frogs; boil all together. in two or three quarts of oil, until the flesh is consumed, and then strain. This is excellent for knotty or chalky gouts, rubbing it well into the parts.—Barham, p. 8.

*

Dr. Dancer says the dose of the fresh plant, (persicaria) in decoction, is a wine-glass. full, as a diuretic; and, on the authority of the late ingenious Mr. Samuel Felsted, that an infusion of the dried plant is powerfully diuretic, and very useful in gravelly complaints.-Medical Assistant, p. 383. The following is copied from Mr. Felsted's manuscript: "A decoction of the stalks of this plant, fresh gathered, drank, a wine glassfuil at a time, at short intervals, has very speedily removed a dangerous suppression of. urine, of two days continuance, after all the medicines which were used had failed.-Also a decoction of the dried stalks and leaves has afforded relief in an arthritic com-plaint, by evacuating sand and gravel.”

Sub-.

Persicaria procumbens longissima, angustifolia, non maculosa, spica longiori, laxiori et graciliori. Sloane, v. 1, p. 17, t. 3, f. 1. hirsutum, vaginis setosis, floribus octandris, stylis trifidis. Browne, p. 212.

Flowers hexandrous trigynous, spikes rod-like, stipules truncate setaceous. ciliate, leaves lanceolate.

Sloane says the root of the barbatum has several protuberances, and great numbers of reddish brown strings. The stalks are spread round, trailing on the surface of the earth for about four feet in length, round, reddish, smooth, jointed at every inch.

The compiler has to apologise to the learned author of the Medical Assistant, for having omitted, in his preface, to acknowledge the assistance he has derived from that very useful work, which ought to be in the possession of every family throughout the West Indies.

The flowers stand on footstalks at the tops of the branches, like those of ordinary arsmart, but more lax and slender, followed by small shining black seeds in green husks, scedɔ angular, with two prickly ends. It grows in moist and muddy places.--Sloane. See BUCKWHEAT.

ARTICHOKE.

CI. 19, OR. 1.—Syngenesia polygamia æqualis.

CYNARA.

NAT. OR.-Composite.

This generic name is said by some to be derived from the word cinere, because, acgording to Columella, land for artichokes should be manured with ashes. Parkinson says, it is so called from the ash-coloured hue of the leaves.

GEN. CHAR. Calyx common ventricose imbricate, with numerous scales; corolla compound tubulous, uniform; corollets hermaphrodite, nearly equal, proper, one-petalled: stamina five-filaments, very short; anther cylindric, five-toothed; germen ovate, style filiform, stigma simple; no pericarpium; seeds solitary, oblong-ovate; down sessile, long; receptacle bristly. There are six species, two only cultivated for use, the cardunculus or cardoon, and the

SCOLYMUS.

1. The co

Leaves somewhat spiny, pinnate and undivided; calycine scales ovate. This is the common garden artichoke,.of which there are two varieties. nical green headed French artichoke, having small leaves, terminated by spines, a tall stalk; the head somewhat conical, and of a light green colour, with the scales pointed at top, opening and turning outward. 2. The globular headed red Dutch artichoke, having leaves without spines, a strong stalk, the head large, globular, a little compressed at top, and of a reddish green colour; broad obtuse scales emarginated at top, growing close, and turning inward. This last is deservedly the most esteemed, both on account of its superiority in size, and the agreeableness of its flavour. The flowers and seed of all the plants of this genus are produced in the centre of the head; the scales of which are the proper calyx of the flower, which consists of numerous small blueish florets, succeeded by downy seeds sitting naked on the receptacle. Both the varieties are propagated by slips or suckers, and thrive very well in rich land, and high cold situations in Jamaica. Very fine ones may often be met with in the Kingston market, the produce of Port Royal, Liguanea, and St. David's, mountains. The ground where they are planted should be well dug, freed from weeds, and so thrown up as to prevent water lodging about the roots. It is best to leave only one shoot and head to each root; by which means the artichokes will be much finer and larger.

The artichoke is a native of the southern parts of Europe. The receptacles or bottoms of the heads, and the fleshy parts of the scales, are usually eaten, and though thought by Galen to generate bile and melancholy, are wholesome and nutritious. The leaves are bitter, and afford, by expression, a considerable quantity of juice, which, when strained and mixed with an equal part of white wine, has been given successfully in dropsies; for this purpose, two or three spoonfuls of the mixture are to be taken night and morning. An infusion of the leaves are likewise diuretic, and may be employed with the same intention.-Woodville's Medical Botany, p. 69, pl. 28.

See CARDOON,

ASPARAGUS.

CL. 6, OR. 1.-Hexandria monogynia. NAT. OR.-Sarmentace. This takes its name from a Greek word, signifying a young shoot, before it unfolds its leaves.

GEN. CHAR.-No calyx; corolla six petalled, cohering by the claws, oblong, and campanulated; the petals reflex at the extremities; stamina filiform capillaments, inserted into the petals, erect, and half the length of the corolla; anthers roundish; germen trigonal, style short, stigma a prominent point; the fruit a globose three-celled berry; seeds two, round, angular inside, sinooth. There are seve ral species and varieties, the most useful is the

Stem herbaceous, round, erect; leaves setaceous; stipules alike.

The root is perennial, large, composed of many succulent round bulbs, forming a. kind of transverse tuber, whence spring numerous stems. The propagation of this useful plant is from seeds. It thrives well in Jamaica, and will grow almost any where, and a bed of it once established will supply a family for many years, with frequent cutting and manuring. The seeds are collected by bruising the berries in any vessel, and. afterwards washing off the pulp. They should then be dried and sown in small trenches. well manured. They must be kept clear of weeds, and, when the stalks are dry, a little rotten dung, should be thrown over the bed. When they grow up again, they w be fit to cut for the table. They produce good cuttings, in this island, twelve months after they are sown. The roots of the asparagus have a bitterish mucilaginous taste, inclining to sweetness; the fruit has much the same kind of taste; the young shoots are more agreeable than either.. Asparagus promotes appetite, but affords little nourishment. It gives a strong ill smell to the urine, in a little time after eating it, and, for this reason, chiefly, is supposed to be diuretic but neither the roots, nor the stalks when branched, have this effect: it is likewise esteemed aperient and deobstruent.

M. Roliquet has lately, it is said, discovered a new vegetable principle in asparagus; it is a triple sait of lime and ammonia, of which the acid is unknown. This chemist, and M. Vauquelin, have found a substance, in the juice of this vegetable, analagous

to manna...

ASPHODEL, OR KING'S SPEAR.

CL. 6, OR. 1.-Hexandria monogynia.

ASPHODELUS.

NAT. OR. Coronaria.

GEN. CHAR.-There is no calyx; the corolla is monopetalous six-parted; the nec tarium consists of six small valves, forming a globe; the stamina subulate, bowed, inserted into the valves of the nectary,, alternately shorter; anthers oblong, incumbent; germen roundish, style subulate, stigma truncate; the capsule is fleshy, globose, three-lobed and three-celled; seeds numerous, triangular, and gibbous on one side. There are three species, only one of which has been introduced.

RAMOSUS.

BRANCHY..

Stem naked, leaves ensiform, keeled, polished.

F. 2

Branchy

Branchy asphodel hath roots composed of fleshy fibres, to each of which is fastened an oblong bulb as large as a small potatoe; the leaves are long and flexible, having sharp edges; between them come out the flower stalks, which rise more than three feet high, sending forth many lateral branches. The upper parts of these are adorned with many white star-shaped flowers, which grow in long spikes, flowering gradually upward.They are easily propagated by parting their roots, and are pretty ornaments to a flower garden.

The roots are of an acrimonious taste, and heating quality; being drank they promote urine and the menses; and the weight of a drachm, taken in wine, is used with success in pains in the side, coughs, convulsions, and ruptures. They are good against bites of serpents, and make a good cataplasm for foul spreading ulcers, inflammations, &c. The ashes of the burnt root, rubbed on an alopecia, cause new hair to spring.-Chambers' Cyclop.

GEN. CHAR.-Calyx a one-leafed, ten-cleft, upright, perianthium, segments alternately small and sharp; the corolla has five petals; the stamina are numerous filaments, length of the calyx; short anthers; the pistillum has numerous germs, collected into a head; styles hairy, long; stigmas simple: there is no pericarpium, the common receptacle of the seeds oblong: seeds numerous, compressed, hisped, awned, with a long style. One species is a native of this island.

Caryophyllata foliis alatis. Sloane, v. 1, p. 224.

Flowers upright; awns hooked, naked; stem-leaves ternate, the upper ones lanceolate; petals shorter than the calyx.

There are two or three sorts of them growing in America. One sort, Pere le Feuville calls caryophyllata foliis alatis flore amplo coccineo. It is an aperitive herb, which the natives make a tea of, to keep their bodies in order. It grows about half a yard high, on the side of the mountains, and hath a scarlet blossom. The same sort I found growing in Jamaica: It is hot and dry, attenuates, cleanses and opens obstructions; is good in bruises and pleurisics, and heals wounds.-Barham, p. 10.

Sloane says this plant is very common in the woods of this island.

AVOCADO