PARSLEY. 35 



Thus, we find, the ancients were satisfied 

 of the existence of the sexual system of 

 plants, although they had not clearly distin- 

 guished the parts of fructification. The use 

 of the tall parsley at table was forbidden 

 both by Chrysippus and Dionysius, because 

 it was one of the viands ordained to be served 

 at funeral feasts. This variety was thought 

 to be injurious to the eye-sight, while the 

 common parsley was greatly commended for 

 many medical purposes. 



The garden parsley was not cultivated in 

 England until the second year of the reign 

 of Edward the Sixth, 1548. 



Gerard spells it Parsele, Parsely, and Pars- 

 ley ; and says, " it is delightful to the taste, 

 and agreeable to the stomacke." He adds, 

 " the roots or seedes, boiled in ale, and drank, 

 cast foorth strong venome or poyson ; but the 

 seede is the strongest part of the herbe." 



Parsley easily resists the cold and the heat, 

 if it be sown on a rich damp soil, or near a 

 spring. 



" Green beds of parsley near the river grew. 



•>■> 



The seed should be sown in the spring ; it 

 remains six weeks in the earth ; it never ap- 

 pears in less than forty days, nor does it often 



d 2 



