40 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES, 



mencement of the sixteenth century, highly 

 extols the virtues of the asphodel for most 

 of the before-mentioned maladies ; and adds, 

 that a dram weight of the root, when boiled 

 and taken in wine, relieves the pains of the 

 side, the cough, the shrinkings of the sinews, 

 the cramp, &c. 



Gerard has given us a description of six 

 species of asphodel, which he cultivated in 

 his garden, prior to 1597 ; one of which he 

 states to be a native of England ; but as 

 more modern botanists do not acknowledge 

 it to be indigenous to this country, we shall 

 give his own words : " The Lancashire as- 

 phodill groweth in moist and marishy places 

 neere vnto the towne of Lancaster in the 

 moorish grounds there, as also neere vnto 

 Maudsley and Martone, two villages not far 

 from thence ; where it was found by a wor- 

 shipfull and learned gentleman, a diligent 

 searcher of simples, and feruent louer of 

 plants, Master Thomas Hesket, who brought 

 the plants vnto me for the increase of my 

 garden. I received some plants thereof like- 

 wise from Master Thomas Edwards, apothe- 

 carie in Excester, learned and skilfull in his 

 profession, as also in the knowledge of plants, 

 unto whom I rest bounden for this plant, 



