210 Old Time Gardens 



" Soarness. How make you pomatum ? 



" Chirurgi. Take the fat of a yearly kyd one pound, tem- 

 per it with the water of musk-roses by the space of foure 

 dayes, then take five apples, and dresse them, and cut them 

 in pieces, and lard them with cloves, then boyl them alto- 

 geather in the same water of roses in one vessel of glasse 

 set within another vessel, let it boyl on the fyre so long tyll 

 it all be white, then wash them with the same water of 

 muske-roses, this done kepe it in a glasse and if you will 

 have it to smell better, then you must put in a little civet 

 or musk, or both, or ambergrice. Gentil women doe use 

 this to make theyr faces fayr and smooth, for it healeth 

 cliftes in the lippes, or in any places of the hands and 

 face." 



With the omission of the civet or musk I am 

 sure this would make to-day a delightful cream ; but 

 there is one condition which the "gentil woman" of 

 to-day could scarcely furnish — the infinite patience 

 and leisure which accompanied and perfected all 

 such domestic work three centuries ago. A po- 

 mander was made of " the maste of a sweet Apple 

 tree being gathered betwixt two Lady days," mixed 

 with various sweet-scented drugs and gums and 

 Rose leaves, and shaped into a ball or bracelet. 



The successor of the pomander was the Clove 

 Apple, or " Comfort Apple," an Apple stuck solidly 

 with cloves. In country communities, one was 

 given as an expression of sympathy in trouble or 

 sorrow. Visiting a country "poorhouse" recently, 

 we were shown a " Comfort-apple " which had been 

 sent to one of the inmates by a friend ; for even 

 paupers have friends. 



