Part of the Roots, I have used, I purchased at three Farthings, the Pound; but of late Years, and being willing to engage the Privacy of the Gatherer; I have given a Penny; they lose about a third in Drying: Allowing these as Facts and taking it at the dearest, less than five Shillings worth of Roots, will go farther, than a Barrel of the best Bark.
As to their Plenty and Propagation, Dr. Helsham testified, they grew in great Plenty as he had observed, in several Counties of this Kingdom, and were very easily propagated.
Dr. William Stephens, Botanic Professor in Trinity College, Dublin, in his Examination declared, that they grew in great Plenty about Dublin, and in several Counties he had observed great Quantities, chiefly on Mountains, and barren Places: That, they were easily to be propagated, in almost any kind of Soil, and that he had some flourishing in the Physick Garden, belonging to the University.
The Resolutions, that the House entred into January 10, might very well have sufficed to have recommended a General Practice. But to remove some Prejudices and to obviate some false Representations, I have impartially recited the several Facts and Testimonies, on which they were founded.
That all People may easily know and find out these Plants, I shall here give a Description; which though tedious, I hope will be excused.
Cinquefoil, in Latin, Pentaphyllum vulgare, in Irish, Tuigbeag (Tuigbeag) Tuigvear Muirre (Tuigvear Muirre) and in some Counties, Meagigh, (Meagigh) is a Plant, whose Roots are very long, about a Finger’s Thickness, of a dark brown or reddish Colour, and very astringent in Taste; the Leaves are born at the Extremity of a small Stem, five together, deeply indented on their Edges, of an oblong Form and hairy; on the Grand Stem, at the Nodes, shoot forth several smaller, terminating with a small Yellow Flower, composed of six small Leaves surrounding a Number of Threads, from whence ariseth a Cluster of Seeds.
It flourishes in every Hedge, sandy, loose and deep Soil: the Roots which are to be preferred, are the thick, long, and of the darkest Colour.
Tormentil, or Septfoil, in West Meath, called Neauhnadis (Neauhnadis) in Ulster, Menedin (Menedin) or Neauhnid (Neauhnid) in Connaught, Levenet (Levenet) in the County of Mayo, Fenede na Muc (Fenede na Muc) this Plant, hath a thick, tuberous Root, of a reddish brown Colour, sometimes covered with a black Skin, of a very astringent Taste, and shooting out many Fibres; the Leaves are generally seven, set on the Extremity of a Foot Stalk, of a dark Green Colour, deeply indented on the Edges and hairy, from amidst them ariseth several small weak Stalks, of a reddish Colour, and hairy, about 12 or 18 Inches in Height, knotted; at every Knot, or Joint, is a Foliage, and two or three Foot Stalks, some bearing Leaves, and one longer than the rest the Flowers consisting of four Leaves, of a light Yellow Colour, to which succeeds the Seeds; the flower Cup, hath Eight Leaves, four large and four small, the Root when Vigorous sends forth several Runners, the Stalks of which are of a reddish Colour, and hairy that spread over the Ground; at every Joynt, from one Part ariseth two or three Stems, each bearing at the Extremity five Leaves, from the other Part, descend several Fibres that become Roots.
It grows almost every where, but chiefly delights in mountainy, barren and shallow Soils; the Roots seldom striking four or five Inches deep. It hath been observed by Dr. Stephens, to grow all along the Banks of the Doder, from Donore-Brook to Old Baun, upon Roch Town Hills; it grows on the Borders of a great Bog for several Miles, by Rathmullian in the County of Meath. In the County of Wicklow, Thousands of Cart-Loads might be with Ease collected; Nor do I know a Mountain or Bog without Plenty of it.