OF SELBORNE. 25 



now is found among all ranks of people in 

 the south, instead of that miserable sort 

 which used in old days to be made of bar- 

 ley or beans, may contribute not a little to 

 the sweetening their blood and correcting 

 their juices ; for the inhabitants of moun- 

 tainous districts^, to this day, are still liable 

 to the itch and other cutaneous disorders, 

 from a wretchedness and poverty of diet. 



As to the produce of a garden, every 

 middle-aged person of observation may 

 perceive, within his own memory, both in 

 town and country, how vastly the con- 

 sumption of vegetables is increased. Green- 

 stalls in cities now support multitudes in a 

 comfortable state, while gardeners get for- 

 tunes. Every decent labourer also has his 

 garden, which is half his support, as well 

 as his delight ; and common farmers pro- 

 vide plenty of beans, peas, and greens, for 

 their hinds to eat with their bacon ; and 

 those few that do not are despised for their 

 sordid parsimony, and looked upon as re- 

 gardless of the welfare of their dependants. 

 Potatoes have prevailed in this little district. 



