Pharmaco-botanologia: or, An alphabetical and classical dissertation on all the British indigenous and garden plants of the New London dispensatory : In which their genera, species, characteristick and distinctive notes are methodically described; the botanical terms of art explained; their virtues, uses, and shop-preparations declared ... / By Patrick Blair.

  • Blair, Patrick, -1728.
Date:
1723[-28]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Pharmaco-botanologia: or, An alphabetical and classical dissertation on all the British indigenous and garden plants of the New London dispensatory : In which their genera, species, characteristick and distinctive notes are methodically described; the botanical terms of art explained; their virtues, uses, and shop-preparations declared ... / By Patrick Blair. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The Firrs, Pines, Cypreffes, Larches, and all the other refinous Ever¬ green^ have been hitherto propagated from the Seed •, Unce being once fell’d, the Root immediately decays, and never lends forth any new Shoots, as moft other Trees and even perennial Roots of Herbs do: It will not, I hope, be amifs if I give fome Direftions about them. The Pra&ice hitherto has been to tranfplant the Seedlings (as they are called, viz,.') luch as have naturally Iprung forth from the Seeds, acci¬ dentally difpers’d, wherethe old Trees grew. Secondly, by lowing of the Seeds in a bed, and by thinning them, and tranfplanting of them from year to year, according to the Gardner’s Pleafure, in Nurleries, fitted for the purpole, until they were lo high and lo Rrong as to be fit for the being planted out in open Fields, and refilling the injuries of the Air and Weather. I now propole a more lure and certain Method by which the moll barren Grounds may be improved, and a mofl conliderable Advantage in twenty or thirty Years time may be made of the Product of v/hat was formerly of no ufe whatloever, v. g. Let two, three, four or more Acres of the barrenell Ground can be thought of, whether on a Mountain, or in a Valley, (though the Valley is the moll to be chofen) be parcelled out in what Form fhall be moll agreeable : Ditch or Fence it lo that no Bealls may get into the Inclofure. Let it remain thus for a year or two *, if there be any Heath, Ferns, or Whins, let them be rooted out, that the tender Grafs may have room to grow, and by this means, the Earth, which was formerly rough and hard, will now become kindly and loft} if that will not do, let it be frequently plow’d up and fallow’d, as they call it. The Earth thus prepared, and a tender Coat of Grals ariling, dig leveral pla¬ ces at convenient diflances, if you pleale, regularly, by applying the Line about a foot Iquare, work the Mould kindly, and Rrew a few Firr, Birch7 or Afli Seeds in each of the Places. Suffer the lurrounding Grals to grow, and only remove lb many of the Weeds, as would otherwile choak the tender Plant. The proper Seafon is September which will only require a thicker Coat of Earth, than if you fow them in the Spring \ for the Seeds of Trees are generally of lo durable a Nature, that they will not readily* be chilled with the Winter’s Frofl. If you pleale you may plant Afies conveniently tall, from a Nurlery, round the Wall or Ditch of the In- cloliire to guard the young Trees when they grow up. And if there be any moifl places, you may Rake down feme Ofier, Sallow, or White Poplar- Poles, which will loon take Root, and become a Fence alio to the voting Trees. If the Plants arile thick in any of thefe diftant Places, you may thin them by pulling and tranlplan' ing the CcndereR, Inhering the R QngeR to remain. There is another Method of taking up the young Firrs, after the firft or lecond Year, with the Earth round the Root, and lo letting them down in holes made on purpofe, without diitui bing the Fibres, but if iu ' ehancs