Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/44

24] from laxity or weakness. No druggist should sell this preparation to strangers.

An essential oil and watery extract of the savin are also kept in the shops.  SAVORY, or Satureia, L. a genus of exotic plants, consisting of nine species, of which the following are the principal, namely:

1. The hortensis, or Summer Savory, an annual herb, propagated from seed, which ought to be sown early in August on beds of light earth:—if the plants are intended to remain in the same situation, the seed should be sparingly scattered; but, if they are designed to be transplanted, it may be sown more closely.

2. The montana, or Winter Savory, is a perennial vegetable, likewise obtained from seed, which requires only a poor, dry soil, where the plants will continue for many years, uninjured by the severest winters. As, however, the shoots will not be well furnished with leaves, when several years old, it will be proper to raise an annual stock of young plants.

Both the summer and winter savory have long been cultivated in the British gardens, for culinary, and medicinal purposes. Their warm aromatic, and pungent leaves, are much esteemed in salads: formerly, they were employed medicinally, with a view to attenuate viscid humours, to dispel flatulency, and to increase the appetite.—According to Prof., this herb, when dry, and put into a bed, possesses the remarkable property of expelling fleas.  SAW-DUST, is the coarse powder remaining after any wood or timber has been separated or cut asunder with a saw. It is frequently employed as a substitute for sand, and strewed on the floors of public and other buildings, frequented by numerous persons. This dust likewise affords good fuel for heating ovens, in which bread and other substances are to be baked.—We understand, from gardeners, that if the fresh dust, obtained after sawing oak-timber, be scattered on gravel-walks in February, or at an early period in March, it effectually prevents the growth of weeds: and, if it be perfectly rotten, together with blood and quick-lime, it proves an excellent manure.

The saw-dust of fir and pine-trees contains a very large proportion of resinous and saponaceous matter; so that it has been usefully employed by the country-people of Sweden and Norway, as a substitute for soap, in washing coarse linen.  SAW-WORT, or Serratula, L. a genus of plants, comprising 18 species; two of which only, according to Dr. Smith, are indigenous; namely:

1. The tinctoria, or, is perennial; grows in woods and on pastures, where it flowers in the month of July.—This plant is employed by dyers, to impart a yellow colour; but, being inferior to the , its use is chiefly confined to the coarser woollen cloths, and as an ingredient in other dyeing drugs.—In combination with indigo, the Common Saw-wort strikes a permanent green colour. Its leaves readily yield a brownish-yellow decoction, which, on diluting it with water, changes to a brighter tinge; and, by adding a solution of pure pot-ash, acquires a darker shade: but, on dropping into it a little of the spirit of sal-ammoniac, becomes reddish-