SALADS. 613 
them make them my common viands, and I find they agree 
with my stomach as well as theirs; at the sight of a toad, or 
viper I find in me no desire to take up a stone to destroy them.” 
Charles Lamb, by contrast, gave the preference to more solid, 
and substantial meals. ‘‘ My appetites,” said he, “are too high for 
the Salads which (according to Evelyn) Eve dressed for the Angel : 
my gusts too excited to sit a guest with a Daniel at his pulse.” 
The Cowslip, and the Primrose, by reason of the delicate 
flavours which their petals afford, whilst the colours are attractive, 
find frequent admission now-a-days into Salads at refined tables. 
Furthermore, the curative virtues which these flowers respectively 
supply may be thus brought to bear in a pleasant, palatable way. 
Already we have given some consideration to the Cowslip. 
Both it, and the Primrose contain a fragrant volatile oil, together 
with “ mannite,’ and a somewhat acrid principle, “saponin.” 
Alfred Austin, Poet Laureate, counsels to “ make healing salve 
with Primroses.” ‘Primrose tea,” says Gerarde, “drunk in 
May is famous for curing the phrensie.” Count Nesselrode, 
the venerable Russian diplomatist, who “ never grew old,” when 
asked what was the secret cause of his prolonged youth, replied, 
“ Flowers, and muisc.” both of which he cultivated with 
enthusiasm. Primrose blossoms are quieting to the nerves, and 
will allay spasm, besides tending to the promotion of sleep. 
They go well with the Lettuce in a Salad for supper. Whilst 
the petals are fresh they possess a honey-like odour, and a sweetish 
taste; when collected and dried, they become of a greenish 
colour. In Devonshire an odd superstition is attached to these 
flowers: if only a few are brought by anyone into the house for 
the first time in the early spring, the good wife will say, ** Whot 
a viile yu be tii bring in tii, or dree Primrosen ! Now us shant 
av no chickun vur a brave while, and they that be a-hatched ‘Il 
die ov tha gaps.” But if a large bunch of Primroses had been 
gathered, and brought in, the results with regard to chicken 
hatching, and rearing, would have been quite satisfactory ; 
so goes the rural belief. 
* Pale Primrose 
s 
That die unmarried ere they can behold 
Bright Phoebus in his stre ee 
. a Winter's Tale. 
A “ Salade des Violettes” is a delicious dish, fit for the table 
of Apicius, or Lucullus: “ Take Batavian endive, finely-curled 
