HERBS USED IN THE PRESENT TIME 27 



pickled and other fruits, etc. The rootes are used with 

 Parsley rootes to be boyled in broths. The seed is 

 much used to put in Pippin pies and divers others such 

 baked fruits, as also into bread, to give it the better 

 relish. The Sweet Cardus Fenell being sent by Sir 

 Henry Wotton to John Tradescante had likewise a large 

 direction with it how to dress it, for they used to white 

 it after it hath been transplanted for their uses, which 

 by reason of sweetnesse by nature, and the tendernesse 

 by art, causeth it to be more delightfuU to the taste." 

 " Cardus Fenell" must have been Finocchio. 



Goat's Beard (Tragopogon pratensis). 



And goodly now the noon-tide hour, 

 When from his high meridian tower, 

 The sun looks down in majesty. 

 What time about the grassy lea 

 The Goat's Beard, prompt his rise to hail 

 With broad expanded disk, in veil 

 Close mantling wraps his yellow head, 

 And goes, as peasants say, to bed. 



Bp. Mant. 



The habits of Goat's Beard, or as it is often called, 

 John-go-to-bed-at-noon, are indicated by the latter 

 name. It is less known as Joseph's Flower, which Mr 

 Friend ^ says *' seems to owe its origin to pictures in 

 which the husband of Mary is represented as a long- 

 bearded old man," but Gerarde gives the Low-Dutch 

 name of his time, " Josephe's Bloemen," and says " when 

 these flowers be come to their full maturity and ripeness, 

 they grow into a downy blow-ball, like those of the 

 Dandelion, which is carried away by the winde." Evelyn 

 praises it, and is indignant with the cunning of the seed- 

 sellers. "Of late they have Italianiz'd the name, and 

 now generally call it Salsifex ... to disguise it, being a very 

 common field herb, growing in most parts of England, 

 1 " Flowers and Flower-lore." 



