Chap. 7 
Herbs, 
12 
unlike to a Beach-Nut, but very much lejjer, winch 
contains a white Pulp within. 
IV. Gerard deferibes it after this manner. Its 
Root is fmall and thready , which fends up a round 
fat Stalky fomewhat crejfed, fmooth and reddifh , 
Wheat Buck. 
Wheat Buck. 
or not much unlike to Ba/il, (whence Tabernaraorr 
tanuslr Name of Ocymum Cereale.) The Flowers 
are Jmall , , whit e, and dufler'd together in one or 
Jtwre Tufts or Umbels , flight ly dajht over here 
and there with a tight Carnation color. The Seed 
is of a dark blackifb color , and Triangular , like 
the Seed of Black Bindweed, which is ufed ( in 
places where it grows plentifully ) in times of Scar- 
city to make Bread of or to be mixed with other 
Corn for that purpofe. 
V. The Places. It is thought to be firft brought 
out of Africa , but now is generally Sown in molt 
of our Northern Countries , where for the Ufeand 
Profit is made of it, whole Fields are Sown there- 
with. It prolpers well in any Ground, be it never 
fo dry or barren, and is many times Sown, to ferve 
as it were inltead of a Dunging. It quickly comes 
up, and is foon ripe, and is very common about 
Namptwich in Cheflnre , where they Sow it as well 
for Food for their Cartel and Poultry, as for the 
ule of making Bread aforeiaid. It grows likewile 
in LancaJhire } and in lome of the Southern parts 
of England , in EJfex, Kent and Middlefex. 
. VI. The Times. It is Sown in April, and be- 
ginning of May , and will be ripe in Augufl fol- 
lowing. 
VII. The Qualities. It is hot and dry in the firft 
degree, Abfterfive and Nutritive, but Nourifhes 
lefs than Wheat, Rye, Oats or Barley •, but more 
than Millet or Panick : And Bread which is made 
v the Meal thereof, is eafie of Digeftion, and 
foon paffes through the Stomach and Belly j for 
which reafon, it becomes very cleanfing to the 
Bowels. 
VIII. The Specification. It keeps the Body 
open, and prevents the growing too Flelhy or Fat, 
but is a little Flatulent or Windy. 
IX. The Preparations. The Meal of it for 
Mans ufe, is by the Country People in Germany , 
Italy, and fome other places, made into Bread, 
Cakes, Puddings and the like, which are pleafant 
enough to eat. 
The Virtues, 
X. Bread, Cakes , Puddings , 8cc. made hereof, 
make thofe People very Strong, and able for La* 
bour, who daily feed on them. The Pultage there- 
of provokes Urine, increafes Milk, loofens the 
Belly j and being eaten mixt with Wine ( as you 
do Flummery ,) it is good againft Melancholy. 
The whole Grain, as alfo the Meal, is ufed gene- 
rally to Fatten Cattel and Poultry of all forts ^ and 
it is obferved, that they are quickly made Fat 
therewith •, and fo Fat, that if they be not Kill’d 
in a fhort time after, they will Dye of themfelves, 
being Suffocated therewith. 
Of COW-WHEAT. 
XI. The Names. It is called in Greek k^t cut- 
y>vet 1 and (Triticum nigrum ) fee The- 
°phr aflus, lib. 8. cap. $ and DioJ corides, lib. 4, 
cap- 17. in Latin Triticum V ucinum, vel Bovinum : 
Cra t£ ogonum Lobelij : Melampyrum Camerarij , Ban- 
hin 'iU Thalij : Milium Sylvaticum Tragi -, and in 
Fuglifli Cow-Wheat. 
XII. The Kinds . There are many kinds of this 
Plant, but moft of them are abfolutely Strangers 
with us, fo that we fhall only take notice of two 
the moft common, viz. 1, Or at eogonum vulgar e Lo- 
belij 
