What is the best way to harvest a Mandragora?
Mandragora roots are living creatures in the form of humans. Always bear in mind that they shreik in pain when torn from the earth and that if you hear this shriek, you risk deafness, madness or even death. The best way to harvest a mandragora is also one of the oldest. These instuctions come from Joesphus of Jerusalem from arround 60CE: A furrow must be dug around the root until its lower part is exposed, then a dog is tied to it, after which the person tying the dog must get away. The dog then endeavours to follow him, and so easily pulls up the root, but dies suddenly instead of his master. After this the root can be handled without fear.
