'The Kitchen Garden. 



yet it is oftentimes, and of many eaten greene, but more vfually being bu- 

 ried a while in fand, that it may grow white, which caufeth it to lofe both 

 fome part of the bitterneffe, as alfo to bee the more tender in the eating; 

 and Horace fheweth it to be vfed in his time, in the 32. Ode of his firft Book, 

 where he faith, 



Me pafcunt 0/iuce, me Cithorea leuefqe Maluce. 



Endiue being whited in the fame, or any other manner, is much vfed in win- 

 ter, as a fallet herbe with great delight ; but the curld Endiue is both farre 

 the fairer, and the tenderer for that purpofe. 



CHAP. XXIX. 

 Spinachia, Jiue Olus Hifpanicum. Spinach. 



SPinach or Spinage is of three forts (yet fome doe reckon of foure, accountin 

 that herbe that beareth no feede to be a fort of it felfe, when it is but an accident 

 of nature, as it falleth out in Hempe, Mercury, and diuers other herbes) two that 

 bear prickly feed, the one much greater then the other : the third that beareth a fmooth 

 feede, which is more daintie, and nourfed vp but in few Gardens : The common Spi- 

 nach which is the lefTer of the two prickly forts, hath long greene leaues, broad at the 

 ftalke, and rent, or torne as it were into foure corners, and fharpe pointed at the ends : 

 it quickly runneth vp to ftalke, if it be fowen in the Spring time ; but elfe, if at the end 

 of Summer, it will abide all the winter green, and then fuddenly in the very beginning 

 of the Spring, runne vp to ftalke, bearing many leaues both below and at the toppe, 

 where there doth appeare many fmal greenifh flowers in clufters, and after them prick- 

 ly feede : The other greater fort that hath prickly feede, is in all things like the for- 

 mer, but larger both in ftalke, leafe and feede. The fmooth Spinach hath broader, and 

 a little rounder pointed leaues then the firft, efpecially the lower leaues ; for thofe that 

 grow vpwards vpon the ftalke, are more pointed, and as it were three fquare, of 

 darke a greene colour as the former : at the feuerall ioynts of the ftalkes and branches, 

 ftand cluftering many fmall greenifh flowers, which turne into clufters of round whi- 

 tifli feede, without any prickles at all vpon them : the roote is long, white and fmall, 

 like vnto the other, with many fibres at it : If it be often cut, it will grow the thicker, 

 or elfe fpindle vp very thinly, and with but few leaues vpon the ftalke. 



The Vfe of Spinage. 



iL 



Spinage is an herbe fit for fallets, and for diuers other purpofes for the 

 table only ; for it is not knowne to bee vfed phyfically at all. Many Englifh 

 that haue learned it of the Dutch people, doe ftew the herbe in a pot or 

 pipkin, without any other moifture then it owne, and atter the moifture is a 

 little prefled from it, they put butter, and a little fpice vnto it, and make 

 therewith a difh that many delight to eate of. It is vfed likewife to be made 

 into Tartes, and many other varieties of dimes, as Gentlewomen and their 

 Cookes can better tell then my felfe ; vnto whom I leaue the further orde- 

 ring of thefe herbes, and all other fruits and rootes of this Garden : For I 

 intend only to giue you the knowledge of them, with fome briefe notes for 

 their vfe, and no more. 



CHAP. 



