CHERVIL. 145 



uill groweth in gardens with other pot- 

 herbs : it prospereth in a ground that is 

 dunged and something moist." He adds, 

 " The great sweet cheruill groweth in my 

 garden, and in the gardens of other men 

 who haue been diligent in these matters." 



Parkinson says, " It is sown in gardens to 

 serve as a sallet herbe : the other (Cerefolium 

 sylvestre) groweth wilde in their vineyards 

 and orchards beyond sea, and in many of 

 the meadowes of our owne land, and by the 

 hedge-sides, as also on heathes." 



The ancients held this herb in the highest 

 esteem. Pliny tells us, that the Syrians, 

 who were great gardeners, cultivated it as a 

 food, that they ate it both boiled and raw, 

 and that they considered it capable of eradi- 

 cating most chronical distempers. 



This was evidently the species called 

 Venus's comb, Scandix pecten, or what was 

 formerly called Shepherd's needle, as Pliny 

 observes, that it was often called Gingidium, 

 viz. tooth-pick chervil. 



The garden chervil is a small annual 

 plant, with winged leaves ; when young, 

 somewhat resembling parsley, but as it runs 

 to seed it bears more the appearance of hem- 

 lock. This herb is grateful to the palate, 



VOL. I. 



