POT-HERBS 



THERE is an interesting passage in one of Gilbert 

 White's letters, in which, speaking of the disappear- 

 ance of the leprosy in England, he attributes it in a 

 great measure to the increased use of vegetables. 

 " As to the product of a garden," he says, writing in 

 1778, " every middle-aged person of observation may 

 perceive, within his own memory, both in town and 

 country, how vastly the consumption of vegetables is 

 increased. Green-stalls in cities now support multi- 

 tudes in a comfortable state, while gardeners get 

 fortunes. Every decent labourer has his garden, 

 which is half his support, as well as his delight. 

 Potatoes have prevailed in this little district, by means 

 of premiums, within these twenty years only, and are 

 much esteemed by the poor, who would scarce have 

 ventured to taste them in the last reign." 



In these days, when potatoes form a not inconsider- 

 able part of a working man's dinner, and when every 

 farm labourer has his garden, or piece of allotment- 

 ground, it is difficult to realise the state of things 

 when potatoes were unknown and vegetables were 

 luxuries. Although, as Lord Bacon reminds us, "God 

 Almightie first planted a garden," yet it is evident 

 that in this country the cultivation of vegetables has 

 only become general in comparatively modern times. 



Our Saxon forefathers certainly had some sort of 



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