The Botanists Companion, Vol. II

Botanist's Companion, Vol. II,
The

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Title: The Botanist's Companion, Vol. II
Author: William Salisbury
Release Date: May 16, 2004 [EBook #12363]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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THE BOTANIST'S COMPANION,
OR AN INTRODUCTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF PRACTICAL
BOTANY, AND THE USES OF PLANTS. EITHER GROWING

WILD IN GREAT BRITAIN, OR CULTIVATED FOR THE
PUROSES OF AGRICULTURE, MEDICINE, RURAL OECONOMY,
OR THE ARTS.

By WILLIAM SALISBURY, OF THE BOTANIC GARDEN OF
SLOANE-STREET.

"Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed, and every tree
yielding fruit, and to you it shall be for meat."

VOL. II.

PREFACE TO THE SECOND VOLUME

In demonstrating the Plants which occur in our annual herborizing
excursions, I have found it necessary to put into the hands of my pupils
some Manual of Botany; and in so doing I have found all that have yet
been published, deficient in one or two essential points, and particularly
as relating to the uses to which each plant is adapted; with out which,
although the charms of the Flora are in themselves truly delightful, yet
the real value of Botanic knowledge is lost. The study of plants, so far
as regards their uses and culture, has engaged my particular attention
for the last twenty-five years, during which time I had the honour of
conducting a series of experiments on the growth of plants, for the
Board of Agriculture, which gave me an opportunity of ascertaining
many facts relative to our Grasses, &c. an account of which, I have had
some time ready for publication. The necessity of a work of this kind in
my present profession, has therefore induced me to abridge it and put it
to press; as such I offer it to the Public. To the Subscribers to my
Botanic Garden this will also prove of great service; it being intended
to arrange the plants in their several departments, so as to make it a

general work of reference both in the fields or garden. In the
department which treats of the Vegetables used for medicinal purposes,
I have given as ample descriptions as the nature of the work will admit
of, having in view the very necessary obligation which the younger
branch of the profession are under, of paying attention to the subject.
In prosecuting this work, I have been more actuated by a desire to
render to my pupils and others, useful in-formation, than that of
commencing Author on such a subject; and writing for the press has
been but very little my employment, I trust that an ample excuse will be
granted for any errors that may appear, or for the want of that happiness
of diction with which more able and accomplished Authors may be
endowed.

BOTANIC GARDEN,
Sloane Street, May 1816.

CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME

PLANTS USEFUL IN AGRICULTURE.

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

PLANTS USEFUL IN THE ARTS.

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 the present day
Observations on drying and preserving Plants for medicinal use, &c.
SECT. 9. Observations on Plants cultivated for culinary purposes
SECT. 10. Observations on Wild Plants useful for culinary purposes,
which are not in cultivation
SECT. 11. Observations on Plants useful for Dyeing
SECT. 12. Observations on Plants used in rural oeconomy

POISONOUS PLANTS GROWING IN GREAT BRITAIN, And their
best recommended Antidotes.

SECT. 13. Observations on Nauseous Poisonous Plants
Observations on Acrid Poisonous Vegetables
Observations on Stupefying Poisonous Vegetables
Observations on Foetid Poisons
Observations on Drastic Poisons

Observations on Poisonous Fungi, Mushrooms, &c.

NOXIOUS PLANTS.

SECT. 14. Observations on Plants noxious to cattle
SECT. 15. Observations on Annual Weeds, or such as grow wild and
do not produce food for cattle
Observations on Weeds with creeping roots
Observations on Perennial Weeds
SECT. 16. Observations on Exotic Trees and Shrubs, and the soil to
which each is best adapted
SECT. 17. Observations on Foreign Hardy Herbaceous Plants, with the