38 THE HERB-GARDEN 



very unlucky to transplant Parsley or to meddle 

 with its roots. 



Bruised Parsley-seeds are said to be a cure for 

 ague, and taking Parsley in excess to impair the 

 eyesight. An incomprehensible proverb has it that 

 ' Fried Parsley brings a man to his saddle and a 

 woman to her grave.' 



Garden Parsley was not cultivated in England 

 until the second year of King Edward VI. 's reign, 

 but no Herb has been so popular with the Enghsh 

 people. The different kinds of curled Parsley now 

 to be bought are a triumph of cultivation. Thirty- 

 seven varieties are described in the Royal Horti- 

 cultural Society's Journal for 1909. The old 

 Greeks and Romans who used to make crowns 

 and garlands of this Herb would have revelled in 

 them. The handsome, frilly foliage has another 

 merit : it cannot be mistaken for that of the 

 poisonous Fool's Parsley, a wild plant with smooth 

 plain leaves, a good deal resembling gardeners' 

 Parsley. 



Burnet is a pot-herb Sir Francis Bacon loved 

 the smell of so much that he advised its culture 

 along with ' Wild Thyme and Water-Mint ' for 

 the pleasure of its scent alone. Whether also as a 

 flavouring for the ' cool tankard ' we know not, but 



