Herbs and Herb Lore of Colonial America

I was so excited when I got this book as I am highly interested in plants that were used during colonial times in America. I am especially interested in what the plant useage was (food, medicine, construction etc) and was hoping to discover some new information on both native and introduced plants during that time.

Oh how HIGHLY disappointed I was! The introduction was the only part of the entire book that was written in adult language. I discovered that this is an unedited reprint of a book written as a compilation of information by a group of women in the 1970s. I don't know who they are, but this book should be rewritten at minimum for the writing style.

The information presented is also unclear and often incorrect. In many places, the authors fail to distinguish between actual use and function of a plant and folk lore and mythology. The processing of plants to useful forms (poultices, tinctures etc) is misinterpreted by these authors, and the pictures associated with many of the plants are often useless unless one knows what the plant looks like in reality.

Over all, this books could be MUCH better than it in fact is.

This little book was a great find. It's a Dover reprint of a much earlier gem that might otherwise have been lost. It is pleasant to read and makes a great reference, as it is well researched and documented. Particularly useful if you are researching early plant uses, early gardening, and early folk medicine in the colonial U.S.

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This is a great little book with full descriptions, etc. of herbs. A nice read and handy to take along on RV trips to shop and identify herbs. Thank you. A great add to my herb book collection.

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This is a very good reference book on herbs grown in Colonial times. Carefully researched by the Colonial Dames of America, it gives you some very interesting facts and plant lore about the herbs grown in those times and how they used them. It also contains a sketch of each plant. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that it does not give you planting instructions or zones where each herb can be safely planted. If you are an herb lover you will enjoy this book.

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This slim volume not only identifies herbs commonly found in colonial American gardens, it also tells why our ancestors grew them. Whether medical, mystical or culinary, everything in the garden had a purpose. I enjoyed that the authors provided historical lore for each plant as well as descriptions on how it was used or prepared. For instance, liquor distilled from lily of the valley "smeared on the forehead and back of the neck makes one to have good common sense."

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