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. In the Figure, (_a_) denotes the Root, (_b_) the Flower in the Bud, (_c_) the Flower expanded, (_d_) the Knob of Seeds, (_e_) the Runners, (_f_) the Flower Cup. I have exhibited but few of the Leaves, Stems, and Runners to avoid Confusion. It is observable, that from the Bark of the Stalk of this Plant, at its breaking forth from the Root, excrementitious Tubercles or Knots, resembling Oak-Galls have been often discovered, and like them are subservient to the Propagation of Insects; which, considering the extream nice, and distinguishing Taste of those Animalculas, may well be allowed as a Proof, that their Juices are similar. The Roots growing on Mountains are small, strong, and often have a black Coat; those that grow on the Sides of Loughs, and in Bogs, are large, of a lighter Colour; some I have had of the Latter, that have weighed each above half a Pound. [Illustration] When you chose the Roots, prefer the large, knotty Roots, that when broken exhibit a blood red Tincture intermixt with the Brown, and those that when cut, leaves on the Knife a strong purple Colour. The best Time for collecting these Roots is in the Winter Season, or early in the Spring, and tho’ the Seed-bearing Stalks, and Foliage are decayed, yet there are several Foot Leaves, that remain and direct the Inquirer. And tho’ these Plants grow wild all over the Country, in such Plenty, as to be more than sufficient to tann all the Hydes, and Skins of the Kingdom; and little Apprehension of a Deficiency, for in digging up the Roots, there will be left some broken Parts, some Fibres, which will Vegetate and give a Supply. A common Root, on a moderate Computation will produce 8 or 10 hundred Seeds, these shedding, and dispersed by Winds, and other Accidents, some will take Root, and carry on a Succession. And in regard, it may be objected, that the Trouble and Expence, in gathering them, when in so dispers’d a Manner, would be very great; and a constant Supply uncertain: And because the Roots, if raised in such Soils, as shall be found to agree with them, would thereby become larger, stronger, as well as cheaper, I have endeavoured the Culture, especially of the _Tormentil_, and with such Success, as to have from each square Yard three Pounds weight of the Roots.