Sallet, I appear my ſelf Inſipid: I paſs therefore to the Ingredients, which we will call

Furniture and Materials

T he Materials of Sallets, which together with the groſſer Olera, conſiſt of Roots, Stalks, Leaves, Buds, Flowers, &c. Fruits (belonging to another Claſs) would require a much ampler Volume, than would ſuit our Kalendar, (of which this pretends to be an Appendix only) ſhould we extend the following Catalogue further than to a brief enumeration only of ſuch Herbaceous Plants, Oluſcula and smaller Eſculents, as are chiefly us'd in Cold Sallets, of whose Culture we have treated there; and as we gather them from the Mother and Genial Bed, with a touch only of their Qualities, for Reasons hereafter given.

1. Alexanders, Hippoſelinum; S. Smyrnium vulgare (much of the nature of Perſly) is moderately hot, and of a cleanſing Faculty, Deobſtructing, nouriſhing, and comforting the Stomach. The gentle freſh Sprouts, Buds, and Tops are to be choſen, and the Stalks eaten in the Spring; and when Blanch'd, in Winter likewiſe, with Oyl, Pepper, Salt, &c. by themſelves, or in Compoſition: They make alſo an excellent Vernal Pottage.

2. Artichaux, Cinara, (Carduus Sativus) hot and dry. The Heads being ſlit in quarters firſt eaten raw, with Oyl, a little Vinegar, Salt, and Pepper, gratefully recommend a Glaſs of Wine; Dr. Muffet ſays, at the end of Meals.

They are likewiſe, whilſt tender and ſmall, fried in freſh Butter criſp with Perſley. But then become a moſt delicate and excellent Reſtorative, when full grown, they are boil'd the common way. The Bottoms are alſo bak'd in Pies, with Marrow, Dates, and other rich Ingredients: In Italy they ſometimes broil them, and as the Scaly Leaves open, baſte them with freſh and ſweet Oyl; but with Care extraordinary, for if a drop fall upon the Coals, all is marr'd; that hazard eſcap'd, they eat them with the Juice of Orange and Sugar.

The Stalk is Blanch'd in Autumn, and the Pith eaten raw or boil'd. The way of preſerving them freſh all Winter, is by ſeparating the Bottoms from the Leaves, and after Parboiling, allowing to every Bottom, a ſmall earthen glaz'd Pot; burying it all over in freſh melted Butter, as they do Wild-Fowl, &c. Or if more than one, in a larger Pot, in the ſame Bed and Covering, Layer upon Layer.

They are alſo preſerv'd by ſtringing them on Pack-thread, a clean Paper being put between every Bottom, to hinder them from touching one another, and ſo hung up in a dry place. They are likewiſe Pickl'd.

'Tis not very long ſince this noble Thiſtle came firſt into Italy, Improv'd to this Magnitude by Culture; and ſo rare in England, that they were commonly ſold for Crowns a piece: But what Carthage yearly ſpent in them (as Pliny computes the Sum) amounted to Seſtertia Sena Millia, 30000 l. Sterling.

Note, That the Spaniſh Cardon, a wild and ſmaller Artichoak, with ſharp pointed Leaves, and leſſer Head; the Stalks being Blanch'd and tender, are ſerv'd-up a la Poiverade (that is with Oyl, Pepper, &c.) as the French term is.

3. Baſil, Ocimum (as Baulm) imparts a grateful Flavour, if not too ſtrong, ſomewhat offenſive to the Eyes; and therefore the tender Tops to be very ſparingly us'd in our Sallet.

4. Baulm, Meliſſa, Baum, hot and dry, Cordial and exhilarating, ſovereign for the Brain, ſtrengthning the Memory, and powerfully chaſing away Melancholy. The tender Leaves are us'd in Compoſition with other Herbs; and the Sprigs freſh gather'd, put into Wine or other Drinks, during the heat of Summer, give it a marvellous quickneſs: This noble Plant yields an incomparable Wine, made as is that of Cowſlip-Flowers.

5. Beet, Beta; of which there is both Red, Black, and White: The Coſta, or Rib of the White Beet (by the French call'd the Chard) being boil'd, melts, and eats like Marrow. And the Roots (eſpecially of the Red) cut into thin ſlices, boil'd, when cold, is of it ſelf a grateful winter Sallet; or being mingl'd with other Oluſcula, Oyl, Vinegar, Salt, &c. 'Tis of quality Cold and Moiſt, and naturally ſomewhat Laxative: But however by the Epigrammatiſt ſtil'd Fooliſh and Inſipid, as Innocentior quam Olus (for ſo the Learned ¹⁴Harduin reads the place) 'tis by Diphilus of old, and others ſince, preferr'd before Cabbage as of better Nouriſhment: Martial (not unlearn'd in the Art of Sallet) commends it with Wine and Pepper: He names it indeed—Fabrorum prandia, for its being ſo vulgar. But eaten with Oyl and Vinegar, as uſually, it is no deſpicable Sallet. There is a Beet growing near the Sea, which is the moſt delicate of all. The Roots of the Red Beet, pared into thin Slices and Circles, are by the French and Italians contriv'd into curious Figures to adorn their Sallets.

6. Blite, Blitum; Engliſh Mercury, or (as our Country Houſe wives call it) All-good, the gentle Turiones, and Tops may be eaten as Sparagus, or ſodden in Pottage: There is both a white and red, much us'd in Spain and Italy; but beſides its humidity and deterſive Nature, 'tis Inſipid enough.

7. Borrage, Borrago (Gaudia semper ago) hot and kindly moiſt, purifying the Blood, is an exhilarating Cordial, of a pleaſant Flavour: The tender Leaves, and Flowers eſpecially, may be eaten in Compoſition; but above all, the Sprigs in Wine, like thoſe of Baum, are of known Vertue to revive the Hypochondriac, and chear the hard Student. See Bugloſs.

8. Brooklime, Anagallis aquatica; moderately hot and moiſt, prevalent in the Scorbute, and Stone.

9. Bugloſs, Bugloſſum; in mature much like Borrage, yet ſomething more aſtringent. The Flowers of both, with the intire Plant, greatly reſtorative, being Conſerv'd: And for the reſt, ſo much commended by Averroes; that for its effects, cheriſhing the Spirits, juſtly call'd Euphroſynum; Nay, ſome will have it the Nepenthes of Homer: But indeed, what we now call Bugloſs, was not that of the Ancients, but rather Borrage, for the like Virtue named Corrago.

Burnet, See Pimpinella.

10. Buds, Gemmæ, Turiones; the firſt Rudiments and Tops of moſt Sallet-Plants, preferrable to all other leſs tender Parts; ſuch as Aſhen-Keys, Broom-buds, hot and dry, retaining the vertue of Capers, eſteem'd to be very opening, and prevalent againſt the Spleen and Scurvy; and being Pickl'd, are ſprinkl'd among the Sallets, or eaten by themſelves.

11. Cabbage, Braſſica (and its