CORIANDER. 113 



rally known, and perhaps few have taken the trouble to re- 

 flect how such small seeds are so completely and regularly 

 invested with their coating of white sugar. As the process 

 is as simple as it is curious, we will describe it : — In the 

 first place a large copper pan, similar in shape to the pans 

 of the small scales used in shops, and capable of holding 

 about half a bushel, is suspended by three cords over a 

 charcoal fire, at such a distance as to be slightly heated; 

 into this, about a pint of seeds are put, with a very small 

 quantity of fine syrup made from refined sugar; the mani- 

 pulator keeps the pan moving quickly round and round, 

 by which means the seeds are all slightly coated with 

 the syrup, and prevented sticking together, whilst the heat 

 dries them completely ; this operation is repeated from time 

 to time, increasing the quantity of syrup as they get larger, 

 until the proper quantity is applied. The whole art of the 

 operator consists in patiently and actively conducting the 

 process, so that the comfits become thoroughly dried each 

 time before more syrup is added, and by the regular motion 

 their sticking together is prevented. 



Coriander. — The fruit of Coriandrum sativum, another 

 of the UmbellifercB. 



These seeds are used in a similar manner to those of the 



