528 



'The Kitchen Garden. 



forth from the head thereof long reddifh firings running vpon the ground, which fhoot 

 forth leaues in many places, whereby it is much encreafed. 



The white Strawberry differeth not from the red, but in the colour of the fruite, 

 which is whiter then the former when it is thorough ripe, enclining to redneffe. 



The greene Strawberry likewife differeth not, but that the fruit is green on all fides 

 when it is ripe, faue on that fide the Sun lyeth vpon it, and there it is fomewhat red. 



The Virginia Strawberry carryeth the greatefl leafe of any other, except the Bohe- 

 mian, but fcarce can one Strawberry be feene ripe among a number of plants ; I thinke 

 the reafon thereof to be the want of skill, or induflry to order it aright. For the Bohe- 

 mia, and all other Strawberries will not beare kindly, if you fuffer them to grow with 

 many firings, and therefore they are flill cut away. 



There is another very like vnto this, that lohn Tradefcante brought with him from 

 BrufTels long agoe, and in feuen yeares could neuer fee one berry ripe on all fides, but 

 flill the better part rotten, although it would euery yeare flower abundantly, and beare 

 very large leaues. 



The Bohemia Strawberry hath beene with vs but of late dayes, but is the goodliefl 

 and greatefl, both for leafe next to the Virginian, and for beauty farre furpaffing all ; 

 for fome of the berries haue beene meafured to bee neere fiue inches about. Mafler 

 Quefler the Poflmafler firfl brought them ouer into our Country, as I vnderfland, but 

 I know no man fo induflrious in the carefull planting and bringing them to perfection 

 in that plentifull maner, as Mafler Vincent Sion who dwelt on the Banck fide, neer the 

 old Paris garden flaires, who from feuen rootes, as hee affirmed to me, in one yeare 

 and a halfe, planted halfe an acree of ground with the increafe from them, befides thofe 

 he gaue away to his friends, and with him I haue feene fuch, and of that bignefle be- 

 fore mentioned. 



One Strawberry more I promifed to fhew you, which although it be a wilde kinde, 

 and of no vfe for meate, yet I would not let this difcourfe paffe, without giuing you 

 the knowledge of it. It is in leafe much like vnto the ordinary, but differed! in that 

 the flower, if it haue any, is greene, or rather it beareth a fmall head of greene leaues, 

 many fet thicke together like vnto a double ruffe, in the midfl whereof flandeth the 

 fruit, which when it is ripe, fheweth to be foft and fomewhat reddifh, like vnto a Straw- 

 berry, but with many fmall harmlefTe prickles on them, which may be eaten and chew- 

 ed in the mouth without any maner of offence, and is fomewhat pleafant like a Straw- 

 berry : it is no great bearer, but thofe it doth beare, are fet at the toppes of the flalks 

 clofe together, pleafant to behold, and fit for a Gentlewoman to weare on her arme, 

 &c. as a raritie inflead of a flower. 







The Vfe of Strawberries. 



The leaues of Strawberries are alwaies vfed among other herbes in coo- 

 ling drinkes, as alfo in lotions, and gargles for the mouth and throate : the 

 rootes are fometimes added to make it the more effecluall, and withall fom- 

 what the more binding. 



The berries themfelues are often brought to the Table as a reare feruice, 

 whereunto claret wine, creame or milke is added with fugar, as euery one li- 

 keth ; as alfo at other times, both with the better and meaner fort, and are a 

 good cooling and pleafant difh in the hot Summer feafon. 



The water diflilled of the berries, is good for the paflions of the heart, 

 caufed by the perturbation of the fpirits, being eyther drunke alone, or in 

 wine ; and maketh the heart merry. 



Some doe hold that the water helpeth to clenfe the face from fpots, and 

 to adde fome cleerenefTe to the skinne. 







CHAP. 



