20. Cucumber, Cucumis; tho' very cold and moiſt, the moſt approved Sallet alone, or in Compoſition, of all the Vinaigrets, to ſharpen the Appetite, and cool the Liver, [16]&c. if rightly prepar'd; that is, by rectifying the vulgar Miſtake of altogether extracting the Juice, in which it ſhould rather be ſoak'd: Nor ought it to be over Oyl'd, too much abating of its grateful Acidity, and palling the Taſte from a contrariety of Particles: Let them therefore be pared, and cut in thin Slices, with a Clove or two of Onion to correct the Crudity, macerated in the Juice, often turn'd and moderately drain'd. Others prepare them, by ſhaking the Slices between two Diſhes, and dreſs them with very little Oyl, well beaten, and mingled with the Juice of Limon, Orange, or Vinegar, Salt and Pepper. Some again, (and indeed the moſt approv'd) eat them as ſoon as they are cut, retaining their Liquor, which being exhauſted (by the former Method) have nothing remaining in them to help the Concoction. Of old they [17]boil'd the Cucumber, and paring off the Rind, eat them with Oyl, Vinegar, and Honey; Sugar not being ſo well known. Laſtly, the Pulp in Broth is greatly refreſhing, and may be mingl'd in moſt Sallets, without the leaſt damage, contrary to the common Opinion; it not being long, ſince Cucumber, however dreſs'd, was thought fit to be thrown away, being accounted little better than Poyſon. Tavernier tells us, that in the Levant, if a Child cry for ſomething to Eat, they give it a raw Cucumber inſtead of Bread. The young ones may be boil'd in White-Wine. The ſmaller sort (known by the name of Gerckems) muriated with the Seeds of Dill, and the Mango Pickle are for the Winter.
21. Daiſy, Buphthalmum, Ox-Eye, or Bellis-major: The young Roots are frequently eaten by the Spaniards and Italians all the Spring till June.
22. Dandelion, Dens Leonis, Condrilla: Macerated in ſeveral Waters, to extract the bitterneſs; tho' ſomewhat opening, is very wholſome, and little inferior to Succory, Endive, &c. The French Country-People eat the Roots; and 'twas with this homely Sallet, the Good-Wife Hecate entertain'd Theſeus. See Sowthiſtle.
23. Dock, Oxylapathum, or ſharp-pointed Dock: Emollient, and tho' otherwiſe not for our Sallet, the Roots brewed in Ale or Beer, are excellent for the Scorbute.
Earth-Nuts, Bulbo-Caſtanum; (found in divers places of Surry, near Kingſton, and other parts) the Rind par'd off, are eaten crude by Rustics, with a little Pepper; but are beſt boil'd like other Roots, or in Pottage rather, and are ſweet and nouriſhing.
24. Elder, Sambucus; The Flowers infus'd in Vinegar, grateful both to the Stomach and Taſte; attenuate thick and viſcid Humours; and tho' the Leaves are ſomewhat rank of Smell, and ſo not commendable in Sallet; they are otherwiſe (as indeed is the intire Shrub) of the most ſovereign Vertue; and the ſpring Buds and tender Leaves, excellently wholſome in Pottage at that Seaſon of the Year. See Flowers.
25. Endive, Endivium, Intubum Sativum; the largeſt, whiteſt, and tendereſt Leaves beſt boil'd, and leſs crude. It is naturally Cold, profitable for hot Stomachs; Inciſive and opening Obſtructions of the Liver: The curled is more delicate, being eaten alone, or in Compoſition, with the uſual Intinctus: It is alſo excellent being boil'd; the middle part of the Blanch'd-Stalk ſeparated, eats firm, and the ampler Leaves by many perferr'd before Lettuce. See Succory.
Eſchalot. See Onions.
26. Fennel, Fœniculum: The ſweeteſt of Bolognia: Aromatick, hot, and dry; expels Wind, ſharpens the Sight, and recreates the Brain; eſpecially the tender Umbella and Seed-Pods. The Stalks are to be peel'd when young, and then dreſs'd like Sellery. The tender Tufts and Leaves emerging, being minc'd, are eaten alone with Vinegar, or Oyl, and Pepper, and to correct the colder Materials, enter properly into Compoſition. The Italians eat the blanch'd Stalk (which they call Cartucci) all Winter long. There is a very ſmall Green-Worm, which ſometimes lodges in the Stemm of this Plant, which is to be taken out, as the Red one in that of Sellery.
27. Flowers, Flores; chiefly of the Aromatick Eſculents and Plants are preferrable, as generally endow'd with the Vertues of their Simples, in a more intenſe degree; and may therefore be eaten alone in their proper Vehicles, or Compoſition with other Salleting, ſprinkl'd among them; But give a more palatable Reliſh, being Infus'd in Vinegar; Eſpecially thoſe of the Clove-Gillyflower, Elder, Orange, Cowſlip, Rosemary, Arch-Angel, Sage, Naſturtium Indicum, &c. Some of them are Pickl'd, and divers of them make alſo very pleasant and wholſome Theas, as do likewiſe the Wild Time, Bugloſſ, Mint, &c.