Gain The Herbal Or General History Of Plants Penned By John Gerard Softcover

was in high school and totally into gardening, especially herb gardening, No particular reason, maybe I didn't like bland food Maybe it was just something different to enjoy I decided I needed to have Gerard's herbal so I went to the library.


The librarian said, "So, you're going to the Renaissance Festival dressed up like an herb"

"No.
"

What's odd is I remember this conversation but couldn't tell you the names of most of the people in my class.


It was an interesting book to look at, though! This is a lovely reference book particularly if you have a bit of a garden and are growing your own plants.


Gerard was an Elizabethan herbalist and gives a description of each plant described, along with notes on when and where they grow and flower, various names and best of all their virtues which details how they can be used.


Because Gerard wrote his book in the lateth century it includes not only old favourites among plants like foxglove, cucumber or cowcumber and oats but also new and exciting plant like Tulips and the potato.


Although taking your medical advice fromth century herbals probably is not the best idea , "The herb chewed and held in the mouth, bringeth mightily from the braine slimie flegme like Pellitorie of Spain" is closer to my idea of an ideal outcome when suffering from a cold rather than the meek promise of decongestion promised by modern over the counter medicines.


The description of violets is particularly fine: ", . . yea gardens themselves receive by these the greatest ornament of all, chiefest beauty, and most excellent grace, and the recreation of the minde which is taken hereby cannot be but very good and honest for they admonish and stirre up a man to that which is comely and honest for floures through their beauty, variety of colour, and exquisit forme, do bring to a liberall and gentle manly minde, the remembrance of honestie, comlinesse, and all kindes of vertues: for it would be an unseemly and filthy thing as a wise man saith for him that doth looke upon and handle faire and beautiful things, to have his mind not faire, but filthy and deformed.
" This book is referred to in a book I have already read, It is a discussion of plants found in Europe with beautiful linedrawings of plant, Amazing to see what can be done with lines, The uses of the plants for healing properties to which I can not attest, although I know many of the plants.
I have seen one other book similar, "Stalking the Wild Asparagus, " I would like to rate this bookstars, This is quaint and welldrawn, Charming herbal, spectacular when seen in the original seriously, it's huge and aboutgrand, Anyway, even my repro copy without the gorgeous engravings is worth a read, Lots of folk medicine, but nice

little touches like "this plant is growing on the wall beside X's house in Chancery Lane.
. . " and reports on his experimental use of the plants, Theedition revised and enlarged by Thomas Johnson, Containing almost,plant descriptions and,superb illustrations, Gerards Herbal is a monumental work, the book all modern English herbals are derived from, and the one herbal every serious enthusiast should have in its entirety.
Original editions are worth perhaps,
I took this with me to Hampton Court when I interviewed their Head Gardener, Dr Terry Gough, No gardener or historian should ever be without their herbal! Lovely research book, always fresh The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes
Read for reference and personal research and for periodspecific information for writing endeavors.

I am finding this work of immense interest, Overall, this work is also a good resource for the researcher and enthusiast and a wealth of information can be found within.
A good foundation for understanding the times and obtaining a point of reference for further study,
I found this The Herbal or General History of Plants's contents helpful and inspiring number rating relates to the The Herbal or General History of Plants's contribution to my needs.
This is thend edition of one of the most interesting Herbals, It's so great to see it in print and not have to go to a rare book room to look at it! Really, really wonderful text and illustrations.
John Gerard also John Gerarde, c,was an English herbalist with a large garden in London, Source: Wikipedia.