HERBS. 381 
balls like dumplings, are esteemed as nourishing, and purifying. 
When plainly boiled the young Nettle-tops closely resemble 
spinach. A good melted butter as a sauce improves them 
mightily ; or cottagers compound an excellent white sauce for 
the purpose by melting a good-sized lump of lard in a basin, then 
rubbing in as much flour as the liquid will take up, making it- 
quite free from lumps, and filling up the basin with boiling water ; 
afterwards adding salt to taste ; the sauce affords just the suffi- 
ciency of fat which is otherwise lacking. The Nettle is one of the 
very best anti-scorbutics. Macaulay, who hated Brougham, wrote 
concerning him : ‘‘ His powers are gone, like a dead Nettle : his. 
spite is immortal.’’ Nettle leaves, as already said, when dried, and 
powdered, will sometimes relieve asthma, and similar bronchial 
troubles, by inhalation, whilst other measures fail; eight, or ten 
grains should be made to smoulder, and their fumes inspired when 
spasmodic difficulty of breathing comes on, or at bedtime. For 
Nettle-beer any adequate amount of young. green Stinging 
Nettles are to be boiled up in a gallon of water, with the juice 
of two lemons for giving a sharp flavour, and a teaspoonful of 
crushed ginger, whilst for sweetening purposes a pound of brown 
sugar is mixed in. Then some fresh yeast from the brewer is 
to be floated on toast in the liquor when cold, so as to ferment it ; 
and it may be afterwards bottled as a specially wholesome sort 
of ginger-beer. Young Nettles of the stinging species, when 
mashed, and finely pulped, being then mixed with an equal bulk 
ot thick cream, pepper, and salt added to taste, make a 
valuable food for a consumptive patient. Pepys records it 
thus (February 25th, 1660): ‘“‘To Mrs. Symons, and there we 
did eat some Nettle porridge, which was made on purpose 
to-day, and was very good.” 
Garden Parsley was not cultivated in England until during 
Edward the Sixth’s reign (1548). We use it rather as a garnish, 
and for stuffing, together with other herbs, than for any 
medicinal purposes. Nevertheless, it possesses, in root, and 
branch, potential virtues for the sick, and ailing ; though in 
the. present day a Parsley bed is associated rather with those 
who come into the world, than with those who would guard 
themselves against leaving it. Proverbially this herb patch 
in the garden is held out as the fertile source of new-born brothers. 
and sisters, when appearing (unexpectedly by the other youngsters) 
suddenly within the limits of the family circle. In Germany 
