Of Thyme

Thyme has a sweet smell,and a warm penetrating aromatic talk. It strengthens and rarifies sizy humours, helps digestion, and is good in the asthma. It is of great use in the kitchen as a wholesome herb, which agrees well with persons of a weak stomach, with the phlegmatic and the old. It heats too much for those of a bilious constitution, and therefore they should use it cautiously.

Of Cresses

Garden cresses is much used in sallads, because it is not only agreeable to the taste, but promotes the digestion of the reft, by strengthening the stomach. It incides gross humours, and opens obstructions of the liver, spleen, and womb. Besides which, it is a good remedy against the scurvy. Persons of hot constitutions should not use it too freely. Water-cresses is excellent against diseases of the skin cau-sed by the sharpness of the lymph, as well as in scurvies, dropsies, and hypochondriac disorders.

Of Spinage

Spinage is entirely a kitchen herb, and is very innocent; for though it is a little cooling, it may be eaten by all persons without danger. It keeps the body open, and is not bad in coughs.

Of Celery

Celery is opening, excites the appetite, dissolves gross phlegm in the stomach, dispels wind, and is good for the diseases of the womb. Yet some women have an aversion both to the smell and taste.

Of Corn-Sallad

Corn sallad is cooling, and cleansing, being much of the nature of lettuce. It is very servicea-ble in the rheumatism, scurvy, gout, and hypochondriac diseases.

Of Mushrooms Or Champignons

When mushroom for champignons that are fit to eat, first appear out of the earth, they are round like a button, and afterwards open by little and little, shewing the red or flesh coloured part underneat consisting of thin membranes or plates: the upper part is smooth and white, and the inside or flesh, when broke, is exceeding white : the stalk is short and thick. Before they begin to open, the taste and smell is good, which is the best time for gathering them; because when they are old, they have a strong smell, and change to a dark colour. They rise spontaneously in the fields and woods,generally after rain. The gardeners have a method of raising them from beds of horse-dung. There is a poi-sonous sort which are often mistaken for the former, and even the wholesome have bad effects, if eaten too freely. When any are poisoned with them, the best remedy is large quantities of milk and oil.

Of Morels

A morel is a kind of early champignon, which is sometimes of the size of a walnut, and is pitted on the outside like a honey-comb. This is the sweet-est and best of all fungous substances; it excites the appetite, increases the motion of the blood, and revives the spirits, but yields little nourishment. The frequent use of it is said to be hurtful to hot constitutions.

Of Truffles

A truffle is a kind of fungus, sound in the earth, which hogs are very fond of, and in some places they discover them by their means. It has neither roots nor leaves, is rough and dark coloured without, but white and fleshy within. Some have been sound of a pound weight; but the best are middle sized, plump, hard, or a sweetish taste, and agreeable smell. They are said to be restorative, provocative, to strengthen the stomach, and to agree best with cold constitutions. They may be found in greatest plenty after rain in the autumn.