380 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



Of the fifteen species of this plant that 

 have been discovered, one third are natives 

 of Britain. 



Tusser notices the cultivation of mustard- 

 seed in Queen Mary's time. His direction 

 for February says, 



" Where banks be amended, and newly vp cast, 

 Sowe mustard-seed, after a shower be past." 



The same author says, in his hints for August, 



" Maids mustard-seed gather, for being too ripe ; 

 And weather it wel, yer ye give it a stripe : 

 Then dress it and lay it in soller vp sweet, 

 Least foistiness make it for table vnmeet." 



Gerard informs us, that the garden-mus- 

 tard, which produces the whitest seed, was 

 not become common in Elizabeth's reign ; 

 but that he had distributed the seed into dif- 

 ferent parts of England to make it known. 

 Mustard was not manufactured in his day, 

 but was brought to table whole, or bruised in 

 vinegar. Gerard says, " the seede of mus- 

 tard pounded with vinegar, is an excellent 

 sauce, good to be eaten with any grosse 

 meates, either fish or flesh, because it doth 

 helpe digestion, warmeth the stomacke, and 

 provoketh appetite." 



Coles observes, in 1657, " In Glocester- 

 shire about Teuxbury, they grind it, and 



