The Kitchen Garden. 



499 



There arc two manner of wayes to whiten Lettice to make them eate the more ten- 

 der : the one is by rayling vp earth like moale hils, round about the plants while they 

 are growing, which will make them grow white : the other is by tying vp all the loofc 

 leaues round together while it groweth, that fo the clofe tying may make it grow 

 white, and thereby be the more tender. 



Lamhes Lettice or Corne Sallet is a ("mall plant while it is young, growing clofe vp- 

 on the ground, with many whitilh greene, long and narrow, round pointed leaues, all 

 the winter, and in the beginning of the fpring (if it bee fowen in autumne, as it is vfuall 

 to feme for an early fallet) rifeth vp with fmall round ifolkes, with two leaues at cuery 

 ioynt, branching forth at the toppe, and bearing tufts of fmall bleake blew flowers, 

 which turne into fmall round whiti(h feede : the roote is fmall and long, with fome 

 fmall threds hanging thereat : the whole plant is of a waterifh tafte, almoll infipide. 



The Vfe of Lettice. 



All forts of Lettice are fpent in fallets, with oyle and vinegar, or as euery 

 one pleafe, for the moll part, while they are frefh and greene, or whited, as 

 is declared of fome of the forts before, to caufe them to eate the more de- 

 licate and tender. They are alfo boyled, to ferue for many forts of dimes of 

 meate, as the Cookes know beft. 



They all coole a hot and fainting ftomacke. 



The iuice of Lettice applyed with oyle of Rofes to the foreheads of the 

 ficke and weake wanting fleepe, procureth reft, and taketh away paincs in 

 the head : bound likewife to the cods, it helpeth thofe that are troubled 

 with the Colts euill. If a little camphire be added, it reftraineth immoderate 

 lull : but it is hurtfull to fuch as are troubled with the (hortnefle of breath. 



Lambes Lettice is wholly fpent for fallets, in the beginning of the yeare, 

 as I faid, before any almoft of the other forts of Lettice are to be had. 



CHAP. XXXI. 



Portulaca. Purflane. 



PVrflane hath many thicke round mining red ftalkes, full of iuice, lying vpon the 

 ground for the moft part ; whereon are fet diuers long, thicke, pale green leaues, 

 fometimes alone by themfelues, and fometimes many fmall ones together with 

 them; among which grow fmall yellow flowers, which ftand in little greene huskes, 

 containing blacke feede : the roote is fmall, and perifheth euery yeare, and muft be new 

 fowen in Aprill, in the alleyes of the Garden betweene the beds, as fome haue hereto- 

 fore vfed, where it may haue the more moidure, or, as I haue feene in fome Gardens, 

 vpon thofe beds of dung that Gardiners haue vfed to nourfe vp their Cowcumbers, 

 Melons, and Pompions, whereon after they haue been taken away, they haue fowen 

 Purflane, where if it be much watered, the warmth of the dung, and the water giuen it, 

 the Purflane hath grown great and large, and continued vntill winter. 



The Vfe of Purflane. 



It is vfed as Lettice in fallets, to coole hot and faint ftomackes in the hot 

 time of the yeare, but afterwards if only for delight, it is not good to bee 

 too prodigal! in the vfe thereof. 



The feede of Purflane doth coole much any inflammation inward or out- 

 ward, and doth a little binde withall. 



CHAP. 



