The ordering of the Kitchen Garden. 469 



bagc Lctticc, l*>th ordinary and extraordinary, and there are other forts ot great Let- 

 tit, c that are open, and dole not, or cabbage not at all, which yet are of an excellent 

 kinde, it they be vfed after that efpeciall manner is tit for them, which is, That when 

 they arc planted (for after they are fownc, they mull be tranf planted) of a rcafonablc 

 diltance in ("under, and growne to be of fome bignefle, euery one of them mult bee 

 tyed together with hall or thread toward the toppes of the leaues, that by this meanes 

 all the inner leaues may growe whitiih, which then are to be cut vp and vfed : for the 

 keeping of the leaues clofe doth make them tafle delicately, and to bee very tender. 

 And tliele forts of Lettice for the moll part are fpent after Summer is pall, when o- 

 ther Lettice are not to be had. Lambes Lettice or Come Sallet is an herbe, which abi- 

 ding all \V inter, is the firlt Sallet herbe of the yeare that is vfed before any ordinarie 

 Lettice is ready ; it is therefore vfually fowne in Augull, when the feede thereof is 

 ripe. Purllane is a Summer Sallet herbe, and is to be fowne in the Spring, yet fomc- 

 what late, becaufe it is tender, and ioyeth in warmth ; and therefore diuers haue 

 fowne it vpon thofe beddes of dung, whereon they nourfed vp their Cowcum- 

 bers, &x. after they are taken away, which being well and often watered, hath yeel- 

 ded Sallet vntill the end of the yeare. Spinach is fowne in the Spring, of all for the 

 molt part that vfe it, but yet if it be fownc in Summer it will abide greene all the Win- 

 ter, and then feedeth quickly: it is a Sallet that hath little or no talle at all therein, like 

 as Lettice and Purllane, and therefore Cookes know how to make many a good dilh 

 of meate with it, by putting Sugar and Spice thereto. Colcworts arc of diuers kinds, 

 and although fome of them are wholly fpent among the poorer fort of people, yet 

 fome kindes of them may be drefled and ordered as may delight a curious palate, 

 which is, that being boyled tender, the middle ribs are taken cold, and laid in dimes, 

 and vinegar and oyle poured thereon, and fo eaten. Coleflowers are to be had in this 

 .intrey but very feldome, for that it is harde to meete with good feede : it mull bee 

 fowne on beds of dung to force it forward, or elfe it would perilh with the troll be- 

 fore it had giuen his head of flowers, and tranfplanted into verie good and rich ground, 

 lell you lofe the benefit of your labours. Endiue is of two forts, the ordinary, and an- 

 other that hath the edges of the leaues curld or crumpled ; it is to be whited, to make 

 it the more dainty Sallet, which is vfually done in this manner: After they are grown 

 to fome reafonable greatnefle (but in any cafe before they (hoote forth a tlalke in the 

 midll for feede) they are to be taken vp, and the rootes being cut away, lay them to 

 dry or wither for three or foure houres, and then bury them in fand, fo as none of 

 them lye one vpon another, or if you can, one to touch another, which by this meanes 

 will change whitiih, and thereby become verie tender, and is a Sallet both for Au- 

 tumne and \V inter. Succorie is vfed by fome in the fame manner, but becaufe it is 

 more bitter then Endiue, it is not fo generally vfed, or rather vfed but of a verie few : 

 and whereas Endiue will feede the fame yeare it is fowne, and then dye, Succorie abi- 

 deth manie yeares, the bitternefle thereof caufing it to be more Phyficall to open ob- 

 Itructions; and therefore the flowers pickled vp, as diuers other flowers are vfed to be 

 now adaies, make a delicate Sallet at all times when there is occafion to vfe them. Of 

 red Beetes, the rootes are onely vfed both boyled and eaten cold with vinegar and 

 oyle, and is alfo vfed to trimme vp or garnifh forth manie forts of difhes of meate : the 

 feede of the belt kinde will not abide good with vs aboue three yeares, but will dege- 

 nerate and growe worfe ; and therefore thofe that delight therein mult be curious, to 

 be prouided from beyond Sea, that they may haue fuch as will giue delight. Sorrell 

 is an herbe fo common, and the vfe fo well kiiowne, both for fawce, and to feafon 

 broths and meates for the found as well as licke perfons, that I lhall not neede to fay 

 anie more thereof. Cheruill is a Sallet herbe of much vfe, both with French and 

 Dutch, who doe much more delight in herbes of tlronger talte then the Englilh doe : 

 it is fowne early, and vfed but a while, becaufe it quickly runneth vp to feede. Sweete 

 Cheruill, or as fome call it, Sweete Cis, is fo like in talle vnto Anife feede, that it 

 much delighteth the talle among other herbes in a Sallet : the feede is long, thicke, 

 blacke, and cornered, and mull be fowne in the end of Autumne, that it may lye in the 

 ground all the Winter, and then it will (hoote out in the Spring, or elfe if it be fowne 

 in the Spring, it will not fpring vp that yeare vntill the next : the leaues (as I laid be- 

 fore) are vfed among other herbes: the rootes likewife are not onely cordiall, but 

 allo held to be preferuatiue againft the Plague, either greene, dryed, or preferued 



with 



