An Introduction to Herbology

Whether you pride yourself in having a green thumb or not, herbology can be a fun and interesting subject! This subject is first taught to students in their first year at Hogwarts School of Withcraft and Wizardry. Although studying plants to some may sound boring and simple, herbology can be a dangerous and difficult subject. We know that there is great danger involved because many of the plants that students study in herbology can be venomous or life threatening if correct safety procedures are not carried out. We also know of at least three professors of the subject of herbology Professor Herbert Beery, Professor Pomona Sprout who taught the subject during the time of Harry Potter and also Professor Neville Longbottom who taught the subject in later years.

What is herbology exactly though? Herbology is the subject in which students study both magical plants and also mundane plants and fungi. Students learn to care for these plants, learn about the magical propeties which they possess and also learn how they can best utilise them whether in their own right or by using them as potion ingredients or medicine.

The subject of Herbology is taught inside of the seven greenhouses at Hogwarts. These greenhouses are long with glass pannelled walls to allow sunlight to come into the room. The rooves of these buildings have long serpentine dragons which run along the peaked rooves as decorations. Housed inside of these marvelous are many rare and exotic plants! Greenhouse One is primarily used by students in their first year at Hogwarts. We can assume that many of the more dangerous and harder to control plants are not kept inside of this greenhouse due to the fact that students studying herbology in their first year would be less experienced in the subject than those students who are studying it in their later years at Hogwarts. Greenhouse Three is used by students in their second to seventh years at Hogwarts. Greenhouse Three is the greenhouse which students learnt to re-pot mandrakes in and it was also used by Professor Horace Slughorn to brew potions. Greenhouses Two, Four, Five and Seven are presumibly used by advanced herbology students and could contain more dangerous plants. Finally, Greenhouse Six is a storage greenhouse and is completely out of bounds from students in their first year.

Now that we know a little about the subject and where it is held, we can discuss some of the various equipment which is used in this subject.

Dragon Dung: Although this is something which doesn't sound very appealing to ones nose, dragon dung is particulary useful in the subject of Transfiguration. Dragon dung is used as a fertiliser and as it is the favourite of Professor Sprout, we can assume that it is particulary effective.

Dragon Dung Compost: As well as being used as a fertiliser, dragon dung can be used as quite an excellent compost used to pot plants with.

Dragon Hide Gloves: When dealing with dangerous plants, you need as much protection as you can get. Having a pair of gloves made out of strong and durable dragon hide will provide a students hands with optimum protection avaliable. These gloves can also be used in other subjects.

Earmuffs: We know that the scream of a mandrake can be very dangerous to witches and wizards. In order to stay safe while dealing with them, students are required to wear a pair of earmuffs or face the danger of being knocked out or something worse!

Mooncalf Dung: Another type of fertiliser which can be used by the students studying herbology. Although it may not be as strong or as effective as the dung of a dragon, it is still very helpful in the subject.

Students Own Wand: A wand if required by students in almost every subject with herbology being no exception. Students are required to have a wand in herbology because they never know when they might have to cast incendio on a rogue devils snare!

I hope you all enjoyed this lesson even though it was just a short one and that you are all eager and ready to begin work on assignment one.