518 The Kitchen Garden. 



is growing aboue ground, encreafeth not to his full growth, but when the Summer is 

 well fpent, and the fpringing of the ftalk is part, which is about the end of Auguft, or in 

 September, then the root is perceiued to be encreafed in the earth, and will before Au- 

 tumne be fpent, that is, in October, fwell like a mound or hillocke, round about the 

 foote of the flalkes, and will not haue his rootes fit to be taken vp, vntill the ftalkes be 

 halfe withered at the fooneft ; but after they be withered, and fo all the winter long 

 vntill the Spring againe, they are good, and fit to bee taken vp and vfed, which are a 

 number of tuberous round rootes, growing clofe together ; fo that it hath beene ob- 

 ferued, that from one roote, being fet in the Spring, there hath been forty or more ta- 

 ken vp againe, and to haue ouer-filled a pecke meafure, and are of a pleafant good tafte 

 as many haue tryed. 



The Vfe of all thefe Potato's. 



The Spanifh Potato's are roafted vnder the embers, and being pared or 

 peeled and fliced, are put into facke with a little fugar, or without, and is 

 delicate to be eaten. 



They are vfed to be baked with Marrow, Sugar, Spice, and other things 

 in Pyes, which are a daintie and coftly dim for the table. 



The Comfit-makers preferue them, and candy them as diuers other 

 things, and fo ordered, is very delicate, fit to accompany fuch other ban- 

 quetting dimes. 



The Virginia Potato's being drefled after all thefe waies before fpecified, 

 maketh almoft as delicate meate as the former. 



The Potato's of Canada are by reafon of their great increafing, growne 

 to be fo common here with vs at London, that euen the moft vulgar begin 

 to defpife them, whereas when they were firft receiued among vs, they were 

 dainties for a Queene. 



Being put into feething water they are foone boyled tender, which after 

 they bee peeled, fliced and ftewed with butter, and a little wine, was a dim 

 for a Queene, beeing as pleafant as the bottome of an Artichoke : but the 

 too frequent vfe, efpecially being fo plentifull and cheape, hath rather bred 

 a loathing then a liking of them. 



CHAP. L. 



Cinara. Artichokes. 



THe fruits that grow vpon or neere the ground, are next to be entreated of, and 

 firft of Artichokes, whereof there be diuers kindes, fome accounted tame and 

 of the Garden, others wilde and of late planted in Gardens, Orchards or 

 Fieldes, of purpofe to be meate for men. 



The Artichoke hath diuers great, large, and long hollowed leaues, much cut in or 

 torne on both edges, without any great mew of prickles on them, of a kinde of whi- 

 tim greene, like vnto an afh colour, whereof it tooke the Latine name Cinara : the 

 flalke is ftrong, thicke and round, with fome skins as it were downe all the length of 

 them, bearing at the toppe one fcaly head, made at the firft like a Pine-apple, but after 

 growing greater, the fcales are more feparate, yet in the beft kindes lying clofe, and 

 not flaring, as fome other kindes doe, which are eyther of a reddifh browne, whitifh, 

 or greenifh colour, and in fome broade at the ends, in others fharpe or prickly : after 

 the head hath flood a great while, if it bee fuffered, and the Summer proue hot and 

 kindly, in fome there will breake forth at the toppe thereof, a tuft of blewifh purple 

 thrumes or threds, vnder which grow the feede, wrapped in a great deale of dounie 

 fubflance : but that roote that yeeldeth flowers will hardly abide the next winter ; but 

 elfe being cut off when it is well growne, that dounie matter abideth clofe in the mid- 

 dle of the head, hauing the bottome thereof flat and round, which is that matter or 

 fubllance that is vfed to be eaten : the roote fpreadeth it felfe in the ground reafona- 



ble 



