OF SELBOBNU, 
239 
marvellous account of tlie vast stores of salted flesh found in 
the larder of the eldest Spencer ^ in the days of Edward the 
Second^ even so late in the spring as the ord of May. It 
was from magazines like these that the turbulent barons 
supported in idleness their riotous swarms of retainers, 
ready for any disorder or mischief. But agriculture is now 
arrived at such a pitch of perfection, that our best and fat- 
test meats are killed in the winter ; and no man needs eat 
salted flesh, unless he prefers it, that has money to buy 
fresh. 
One cause of this distemper might be, no doubt, the 
quantity of wretched fresh and salt fish consumed by the 
commonalty at all seasons as well as in Lent, which our 
poor now would hardly be persuaded to touch. 
The use of linen changes, shirts or shifts, in the room of 
sordid and filthy woollen, long worn next the skin, is a 
matter of neatness comparatively modern ; but must prove 
a great means of preventing cutaneous ails. At this very 
time, woollen instead of linen prevails among the poorer 
Welsh, who are subject to foul eruptions. 
The plenty of good wheaten bread that now is found 
among all ranks of people in the south, instead of that 
miserable sort which used in old days to be made of barley 
or beans, may contribute not a little to the sweetening 
their blood and correcting their juices 5 for the inhabitants 
of mountainous districts to this day are still liable to the 
itch and other cutaneous disorders, from a wretchedness and 
poverty of diet. 
As to the produce of a garden, every middle-aged per- 
son of observation may perceive, within his own memory, 
both in town and country, how vastly the consumption of 
vegetables is increased. Green-stalls in cities now support 
multitudes in a comfortable state, while gardeners get for- 
tunes. Every decent labourer also has his garden, which 
is half his support, as well as his delight; and common 
farmers provide plenty of beans, peas, and greens, for their 
hinds to eat with their bacon ; and those few that do not are 
Viz. 600 bacons, eighty carcases of beef, and 600 muttons. — G. W. 
