erly thought that the ginfeng grew only in China and Tartary; but it was discovered in America about the year 1750, and fome fpecimens of it having been fent to England, and thence to China, it was, on trial, acknowledged, by the Chinese themselves, to be the fame with the oriental ginfeng.

The proper time for gathering this root, is in September, just before the froft kills the ftem. The way of curing it in China, is thus related. After the ginfeng is gathered, it is cleaned, then dipped in fcalding water, and the ligneous bark rubbed off with a piece of dry flannel. It is then laid across sticks, over a veffel, in which yellow millet* is boiling, with a gentle fire, and covered with a cloth. The fteam of the boiling millet gives • it that colour which is admired by the Chi'nefe. When the roots are thus prepared, they * must be dried and kept close, otherwise they

will corrupt or be destroyed by worms.' This root once promised to be a valuable article of commerce with China; but the fale of it has been greatly injured by the loofe and carelefs manner in which it has been packed, and the too great quantity which has been at once exported. It might however, by fome proper regulations, be ftill rendered advantageous.

The

* Millet is very cafily cultivated, and yields a vast in creafe. I have counted ten thousand grains on one stalk.

The PRICKLY ASH (its genus unknown) is a fhrub, growing in moift places, and fometimes rifing into a small tree. It is armed with Spicule, like the locuft. The bark has a high degree of warmth and pungency; with which, in the feed, is combined an agreeable The former is esteemed an excellent remedy for the chronic rheumatism. The latter were used by the foldiers, in the late war, and by many other people, remote from the trading towns, as a fubftitute for pepper in feasoning food. It is chiefly found in the western part of the State.

aroma.

The GARGET (phytolacca decandra) is a valuable plant. Its berries yield a beautiful purple juice, which might be used in dying. Its root is in great repute among farriers.

Of the ELDER there are two fpecies, BLACK (Sambuccus nigra) and RED (viburnum opulus.) The former is too well known to need any description; as are the MAIDEN-HAIR (adianthus pedatuus) the SARSAPARILLA (aralia) SNAKE ROOT (polygala fenega) and many others.

There are feveral plants, the virtues of which were well known to the Indians, but are now either neglected or unknown. One of these is a running vine, bearing a small red berry, and a round leaf, which Joffelyn (who wrote in 1672) fays, the fishermen

called

called poke ;* it is known to the hunters by the name of Indian tobacco, and it was used by the natives, before their acquaintance with the Europeans, for fmoaking, and afterward was frequently mixed with the true tobacco from the fouthern parts of America. It has a strong narcotic quality. It grows on the fummit of Agamenticus; and on many other mountains and dry elevated places.

Another is the INDIAN HEMP (afclepias) of which the Indians made their bow-ftrings. The fibres of its bark are strong, and may be wrought into a fine thread. The SILK GRASS, another fpecies of the afclepias, bears a pod, containing a down, which may be carded and fpun into candle wicks.

The WICTH HAZEL (hamamelis) was much used by the Indians, as a remedy for inflamma

tions.

We have at least three fpecies of the lobelia ; one of which is a strong emetic; another (lobelia cardinalis) is employed in the cure of a difcafe, with the name of which I will not ftain my page.

The vine, called BUCK BEAN (menyanthes) faid to be a rare plant in this country, and of fingular ufe in medicine. It grows at Jaffrey, near the grand Monadnock.

The

*Poke is the name by which the garget is known in the middle States,

The arum, or skunk cabbage, has been found efficacious in afthmatic complaints.

very

It

may be proper to close this account of indigenous vegetables, with the names of those plants, which, under certain circumstances, operate as poifons; fome of which, however, have been brought into medicinal use, and are in repute for the cure of disorders, attended with fpafmodic affections. Of this latter fort, are the HEMLOCK (cicuta) the THORN APPLE (datura ftramonium) the HENBANE (hyoscyamus niger) and the NIGHT SHADE (Solanum nigrum.) Other poisonous plants, are the Ivy. (bedera helix) the CREEPING IVY, or, as it is called by fome, MERCURY (rhus radicans) the juice of which stains linen a deep and indelible black; the SWAMP SUMACH (rhus toxico dendrum) the WATER ELDER (viburnum opulus) the HERB CHRISTOPHER (actæa fpicata) the STINKING SNAKEWEED (cliffortia trifoliata) and the WHITE HELLEBORE (veratrum album.)

CHAP.

CHA P. IX.

Soil, Cultivation and Husbandry.

TH

'HERE is a great variety of foil in New-Hampshire, The intervale lands on the large rivers, are accounted the most valuable, because they are overflown and recruited every year by the water from the uplands, which brings down a fat slime or fediment, of the confiftence of foap. These lands produce every kind of grain in the utmoft perfection; but are not fo good for pasture as the uplands of a proper quality. The wide spreading hills of a moderate elevation, are generally much efteemed, as warm and rich; rocky moist land is accounted good for pasture; drained fwamps have a deep mellow foil, and the valleys between hills are generally very productive.

In the new and uncultivated parts, the foil is distinguished by the various kinds of woods which grow upon it, thus: White oak land is hard and ftony, the under growth confifting of brakes and fern; this kind of foil will not bear grafs till it has been ploughed and hoed

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