SHAKESPEARE’S GARDEN 
55 
number baptized was calculated by means of beans 
dropped into a bag: for every boy a black one,, for 
every girl a white (Murray’s “ Handbook of North 
Italy”). 
In Shakespeare’s day several kinds of beans were 
grown. Twice he refers to them, once as part of 
the food for horses. Mischievous Puck says : 
When I a fat and bean-fed horse beguile. 
Midsummer-Night's Dream , II. i. 45. 
And secondly, in 1 Henry IV., II. i. 9: 
Peas and beans are as dank here as a dog. 
Two species of the genus Allium flower this 
month, the garlick and onion, plants popular at that 
time not only as food, but as medicine, and much 
might be said of their reputed virtues. The garlic. 
Allium sativum , L., is a native of Southern Europe, 
but grows easily in our gardens. Stevens quaintly 
says : 
“ Garlicke taken fasting is the countrie man’s 
treacle in the time of the plague and other dangerous 
diseases, as also against all manner of venom and 
poison.” 
He advises, to prevent the unpleasant smell, it is 
well to eat “ a bean or ribbe of a beete or mallage or 
green parsley.” There is no doubt its objectionable 
smell made it unpleasant to the refined palate, and 
Shakespeare only uses it when alluding to the 
coarse food of the lower orders. Thus, in Midsummer- 
Night 9 s Dream, IV. ii. : 
And, most dear actors, eat no onions nor garlic, for we are 
to utter sweet breath ; 
and again in 1 Heriry, IV., Ill, i. l6l ; 
