HERBS CHIEFLY USED IN THE PAST 79 



Rocambole {^Allium Scorodoprasum). 



Rocambole is a kind of garlic, but milder in flavour, 

 and it is a natiye of Denmark. De la Quintinye seems 

 to confuse it with Shallots {Allium ascalonium), as he 

 writes of " Shallots or Rocamboles, otherwise Spanish 

 Garlick." Evelyn, speaking of Garlic as impossible — 

 one cannot help feeling with a smothered wistfulness — 

 says : " To be sure, 'tis not fit for Ladies' Palates, nor 

 those who court them, farther than to permit a light 

 touch in the Dish, with a Clove thereof, much better 

 supplied by the gentler Rocambole^ 



Rocket {Eruca sativa). 



Various plants claim the name of Rocket, but it was 

 Eruca sativa that was used as a salad herb. Parkinson 

 explains the Italian name Ruchetta and Rucola Gentile 

 thus : " This Rocket Gentle, so-called from the Italians, 

 who by that title of Gentle understand anything that 

 maketh one quicke and ready to jest, to play." It is 

 certainly not specially gentle in the ordinary sense of the 

 words, for it has leaves " like those of Turneps, but 

 not neere so great nor rough " ; and if eaten alone, " it 

 causeth head-ache and heateth too much." It is, 

 however, good in Salads of Lettuce, Purslane, "and 

 such cold herbes," and Turner observes that " some use 

 the sede for sauce, the whiche that it may last the 

 longer, they knede it with milke or vinegre, and make 

 it into little cakes." It has a strong peculiar smell, and 

 is no longer used in England ; though Loudon says that 

 in some places on the Continent it makes "an agreeable 

 addition to cresses and mustard in early spring." Cul- 

 pepper found that the common wild Rocket was hurtful 

 used alone, as it has too much heat, but to "hot and 

 choleric persons it is less harmful" (one would have 

 imagined that it would have been the other way) and 



