Of Medow grasse.
The kindes.
THe Here be sundry and infinite kinds of grasses not mentioned by the ancients, either as vnneccessarie to be set downe, or vnknowen to them: onely they make mention of some few, whose wants we meane to supplie, in such as haue come to our knowledge, referring the rest to the curious searcher of simples.
The description.
COmmon Medow grasse hath very small tufts of rootes, with thicke hairie threds depending vpon the highest turfe, matting and creeping on the ground with a most thicke and apparent shew of wheaten leaues, lifting vp long, thin, iointed and light stalks, a foote or a cubite high, growing small and sharpe at the top, with an eare which is loose and hanging downward, like the tuft or top of the common Reede called Vallatoria. Small Medow grasse differeth from the former in varietie of the foile: for as the first kinde groweth in medowes, so doth this Small grasse clothe the hillie and more drie grounds vntilled, and barren barren by nature : a grasse more fit for sheepe, than for greater cattell. And bicause the kindes of grasse do differ apparantly in roote, tuft, staffe, leafe, sheath, eare or crest, we may assure our selues of their seueral vertues, formed by the Creator for the vse of man, although that they haue been by a common negligence hidden and vnknowen. And therefore in this our labor, we haue placed each of them in their seueral bed, where the diligent searcher of nature may, if so he please, place his learned obseruations. | 1 Gramen pratense. | 2 Gramen pratenseminus. | | :--- | :--- | | Medow grasse. | Small medow grasse. |
The place.
Common Medow grasse groweth of it selfe, vnset or vnsowen, euery where: but the Small Medow grasse for the most part groweth vpon drie and barren grounds, as partly we haue touched in the description.
The time.
Concerning the time, when grasse springeth and seedeth, I suppose there is none so simple but knoweth it, and that it continueth all the whole yeere, seeding in Iune and Iuly. Neither needeth it any propagation or replanting by seede or otherwise, no not so much as the waterie grasses: but that they recouer themselues againe, although they haue been drowned in water all the winter long, as may appeere in the wilde fennes in Lincolnshire, and such like places.
The names.
Grasse is called in Greeke ἄγρωστις, of the Latines Gramen, as it is thought à gradiendo, quod geniculatis internodijs serpat crebròq; nouas spargat radices: for it groweth, goeth and spreadeth it selfe vnset or vnsowen naturally ouer all fields or grounds, clothing them with a perfect greene. It is yeerely mowed, in some places twise, and in some rare places thrise: then is it dried and withered by the heate of the sunne, with often turning it. And now it is called Fænum, nescio an à fænore aut fatu. In English Hay: in French Le herbe du praiz.
The temperature.
The rootes and seedes of grasse are of more vse in phisicke than the herbe, and are accounted of all all writers, moderately to open and prouoke vrine.
The vertues.
The decoction of grasse with the rootes of parsley drunke, helpeth the dissurie and prouoketh vrine. The rootes of grasse, according to Galen, doe glew and consolidate togither new and bleeding wounds. The iuice of grasse mixed with honie and the powder of Sothernwood taken in drinke, killeth wormes in children, but if the childe be yoong, or tender of nature, it shall suffice to mixe the iuice of grasse and the gall of an oxe or bull togither, and therewith annoint the childes bellie, and lay a clout wet therein vpon the nauell. Fernelius saith, that grasse doth helpe the obstructions of the liuer, raines and kidneies, and all euill affections of the raines called Nephritis. Hay sodden in water till it be tender, and applied hot to the chaps of beasts that be chap-fallen through long standing in pound, or stable without meate, is a present remedie.
Text in Gerard's own spelling (the long s is printed as s), transcribed by the Source Library (CC BY-SA 4.0). A chapter may run onto pages not yet transcribed. Gerard wrote within Galenic medicine; nothing here is advice.