Rhubarb. 151 



back than 1820, when Mr. Myatt, of Dept- 

 ford, undertook the utilisation of the stalks 

 as a fruit. 



In all these very early sources of informa- 

 tion we fail to meet with certain esculents, 

 which have grown too familiar to ourselves 

 to attract much attention, sea-kale, the 

 tomato, the vegetable marrow. These have 

 been of comparatively recent introduction. 



Preserved lemons were sold by the con- 

 fectioners in James I.'s time. Perhaps they 

 were so imported from the Continent. 

 Brathwaite, who wrote in or before 1617 his 

 Rules and Orders for the Government of the 

 House of an Earl, in adverting to the growth 

 of luxury and extravagance, says that the 

 old plain fashion of bringing the dishes to 

 the table pleased no longer, but they must 

 come 



" Garnished about with sugar and preserved plums, 

 the meat covered over with orangeade, preserved 

 lemons, and with divers other preserved and conserved 

 stuff fetched from the confectionaries." 



Citrons are mentioned, however, as I have 



