Herbology
is Here
What we become is not determined by our roots.
What is Herbology
Plants are not just the plain, unmoving things they appear to be. Plants can be dangerous beings, as you will come to realise, and Herbology is not an easy study.
But first things first. Herbology is the study, along with the usage, of both magical and mundane plants. This includes use within medical, protective, aesthetic, and even educational purposes. The title "Herbologist" is frequently used with a negative connotation, due to a major lack of understanding in today's society, who continues to belittle practitioners by referring to them as "Herbies" or mere "Gardeners".
Dragon dung is an extremely potent fertiliser, found in the stool of any dragon capable of producing fire. The dung works so well, due to the potent acid found within these dragons' stomachs. These acids are capable of breaking down almost all minerals to their most natural, and least complex form, ideal for a number of plants. Having no discernible scent, dragon dung, will not bother either the Herbologist or the plant when used. Mooncalf dung is another, gentler fertiliser. As such, it is tended to be more useful when caring for more sensitive and fragile types of plants. Unfortunately, it is not an option for all plants, due to its lower vitamin and nutritional value, and may not be able to allow a plant to grow healthily.
Although water is generally effective for most, making use of Centaur Tears is a far more efficient way of growing plants. Containing many more vitamins than natural water, their quality is so great, that they are capable of reviving plants moments after death. Unlike with water, however, some plants may find them toxic. Any plant growing in salt water should not be watered with Centaur tears
Contrary to popular belief, there is a massive assortment of knowledge one can potentially gain from the study of plants. For example, knowing what wood an opponent's wand is derived from, within a duel, could easily allow you to make use of spells more effective against such a caster. The impact on potions is even greater; confuse a single ingredient for another, similar plant, and everything could backfire with dire consequences. Healers, another common user of Herbology, must be able to distinguish between many different plants, and be well informed of toxicity hazards and any plant used in treatment of injuries. As I've said before, and can not stress enough, each herb, fungi, tree and flower, whether magical or otherwise, retains a distinguished usage, appearance, and personality, just like you and I. Herbology is more than just studying plants. It is recognising and respecting these individual traits, which allow these beings to function as they do.
Equipment
The basic equipment used in Herbology falls under two main categories; equipment needed for one's own protection, which should be on hand at all times when studying, and equipment needed for the care of plants, such as different fertilisers and pots, which may be more or less useful depending on the type of plant. Protective equipment is a must whenever working with plants. Dittany is an essential, along with protective gloves, closed footwear, an apron, and a mask if needed (where exposure to fumes may be dangerous).
Only recently, the Herbology Today newspaper has published alarming statistics. In the past year alone, over thirty thousand witches and wizards have been harmed by preventable errors in Herbology, with 81% of these caused by neglecting protective equipment; namely, dragonhide gloves. 21% of these thirty thousand resulted in long term or irrevocable damage, affecting over six thousand people.
Discussions of ethics are a frequent form of debate regarding Centaur Tears. Classified by the ministry as "beasts" centaurs are proven to retain intelligence, that is, in actuality, far greater than that of humans. Centaurs take special care over the areas in which they reside, using their tears specifically to tend to nature and their environment. Rarely, people such as Rubeus Hagrid or Albus Dumbledore manage to forge friendships with these reputable beings, and are able to harvest Centaur Tears, provided that all the work goes into better understanding and growing plants. Unfortunately, many lesser witches and wizards attempt to obtain Centaur Tears their own way. Ministry laws protect Centaurs, yet for Herbologists, many sources of the tears are far less trusted, due to the means in which they are suspected of collecting their tears.