Produced by Tobias von der Haar
By WILLIAM SALISBURY, OF THE BOTANIC GARDEN OF SLOANE-STREET.
"Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed, and every treeyielding fruit, and to you it shall be for meat."
In demonstrating the Plants which occur in our annual herborizingexcursions, I have found it necessary to put into the hands of my pupilssome Manual of Botany; and in so doing I have found all that have yetbeen published, deficient in one or two essential points, andparticularly as relating to the uses to which each plant is adapted;with out which, although the charms of the Flora are in themselves trulydelightful, yet the real value of Botanic knowledge is lost. The studyof plants, so far as regards their uses and culture, has engaged myparticular attention for the last twenty-five years, during which time Ihad the honour of conducting a series of experiments on the growth ofplants, for the Board of Agriculture, which gave me an opportunity ofascertaining many facts relative to our Grasses, &c. an account ofwhich, I have had some time ready for publication. The necessity of awork of this kind in my present profession, has therefore induced me toabridge it and put it to press; as such I offer it to the Public. To theSubscribers to my Botanic Garden this will also prove of great service;it being intended to arrange the plants in their several departments, soas to make it a general work of reference both in the fields or garden.In the department which treats of the Vegetables used for medicinalpurposes, I have given as ample descriptions as the nature of the workwill admit of, having in view the very necessary obligation which theyounger branch of the profession are under, of paying attention to thesubject.
In prosecuting this work, I have been more actuated by a desire torender to my pupils and others, useful in-formation, than that ofcommencing Author on such a subject; and writing for the press has beenbut very little my employment, I trust that an ample excuse will begranted for any errors that may appear, or for the want of thathappiness of diction with which more able and accomplished Authors maybe endowed.
Sloane Street, May 1816.
SECT. 1. Observations on saving Grass-seeds and the use of the British
Grasses in general, as fodder, &c.
SECT. 2. Observations on Artificial Grasses
SECT. 3. Observations on Plants affording fodder from leaves and roots
SECT. 4. Observations on Grains
SECT. 5. Observations on Miscellaneous Articles
SECT. 6. Observations on British Trees and Shrubs
SECT. 7. Observations on Medicinal Plants contained in the London,
Edinburgh, and Dublin Pharmacopoeias
SECT. 8. Observations on Medicinal Plants not in the Pharmacopoeias of thepresent day
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