480 The Kitchen Garden. 



The Vfe of Baulme. 



Baulme is often vfed among other hot and fweete herbes, to make baths 

 and wafhings for mens bodies or legges, in the Summer time, to warme and 

 comfort the veines and fmewes, to very good purpofe and effe6t, and hath 

 in former ages beene of much more vfe then now adaies. It is alfo vfed by 

 diuers to be (lilled, being deeped in Ale, to make a Baulme water, after the 

 manner they haue beene taught, which they keepe by them, to vfe in the 

 (lead of Aqua vitce, when they haue any occafion for their owne or their 

 neighbours Families, in fuddaine qualmes or paffions of the heart : but if 

 they had a little better direction (for this is fomewhat too rude) it would 

 doe them more good that take it: For the herbe without all quellion is an 

 excellent helpe to comfort the heart, as the very fmell may induce any fo to 

 beleeue. It is alfo good to heale greene wounds, being made into falues : 

 and I verily thinke, that our forefathers hearing of the healing and comfor- 

 table properties of the true naturall Baulme, and finding this herbe to be fo 

 effecluall, gaue it the name of Baulme, in 'imitation of his properties and 

 vertues. It is alfo an herbe wherein Bees doe much delight, as hath beene 

 found by experience of thofe that haue kept great flore ; if the Hiues bee 

 rubbed on the infide with fome thereof, and as they thinke it draweth o- 

 thers by the fmell thereof to refort thither. Plinie faith, it is a prefent re- 

 medy againft the flinging of Bees. 



CHAP. X. 

 Mentha. Mintes. 



THere are diuers forts of Mints, both of the garden, and wilde, of the woods, 

 mountaines, and (landing pooles or waters : but I will onely in this place bring 

 to your remembrance two or three forts of the mofl vfuall that are kept in gar- 

 dens, for the vfes whereunto they are proper. 



Red Mint or browne Mint hath fquare brownifh ftalkes, with fomewhat long and 

 round pointed leaues, nicked about the edges, of a darke greene colour, fet by couples 

 at euery ioynt, and of a reafonable good fent : the flowers of this kinde are reddifh, 

 (landing about the toppes of the ftalkes at diflances : the rootes runne creeping in the 

 ground, and as the reft, will hardly be cleared out of a garden, being once therein, in 

 that the fmalleft peece thereof will growe and encreafe apace. 



Speare Mint hath a fquare greene ftalke, with longer and greener leaues then the 

 former, fet by couples, of a better and more comfortable fent, and therefore of much 

 more vfe then any other : the flowers hereof growe in long eares or fpikes, of a pale 

 red or blufh colour : the rootes creepe in the ground like the other. 



Party coloured or white Mint hath fquare greene ftalkes and leaues, fomewhat lar- 

 ger then Speare Mint, and more nicked in the edges, whereof many are parted, halfe 

 white and halfe greene, and fome more white then greene, or more green then white, 

 as nature lifteth : the flowers (land in long heads clofe fet together, of a blufh colour : 

 the rootes creepe as the reft doe. 



The Vfe of Mintes. 



Mintes are oftentimes vfed in baths, with Baulme and other herbes, as a 

 helpe to comfort and ftrengthen the nerues and (inewes. 



It is much vfed either outwardly applyed, or inwardly drunke, to ftreng- 

 then and comfort weake (lomackes, that are much giuen to cafting : as alfo 

 for feminine fluxes. It is boyled in milke for thofe whofe ftomackes are 



apt 



