VI. Sixthly, That the Pepper (white or black) be not bruis'd to too ſmall a Duſt; which, as we caution'd, is very prejudicial. And here let me mention the Root of the Minor Pimpinella, or ſmall Burnet Saxifrage; which being dried, is by ſome extoll'd beyond all other Peppers, and more wholſom.
Of other Strewings and Aromatizers, which may likewiſe be admitted to inrich our Sallet, we have already ſpoken, where we mention Orange and Limon-peel; to which may alſo be added, Jamaica-Pepper, Juniper-berries, &c. as of ſingular Vertue.
Nor here ſhould I omit (the mentioning at leaſt of) Saffron, which the German Houſewives have a way of forming into Balls, by mingling it with a little Honey; which throughly dried, they reduce to Powder, and ſprinkle it over their Sallets for a noble Cordial. Thoſe of Spain and Italy, we know, generally make uſe of this Flower, mingling its golden Tincture with almoſt every thing they eat; But its being ſo apt to prevail above every thing with which 'tis blended, we little incourage its admittance into our Sallet.
VII. Seventhly, That there be the Yolks of freſh and new-laid Eggs, boil'd moderately hard, to be mingl'd and maſh'd with the Muſtard, Oyl, and Vinegar; and part to cut into quarters, and eat with the Herbs.
VIII. Eighthly, (according to the ſuper-curious) that the Knife, with which the Sallet Herbs are cut (eſpecially Oranges, Limons, &c.) be of Silver, and by no means of Steel, which all Acids are apt to corrode, and retain a Metalic reliſh of.
IX. Ninthly and Laſtly, That the Saladiere, (Sallet-Diſhes) be of Porcelane, or of the Holland-Delft-Ware; neither too deep nor ſhallow, according to the quantity of the Sallet Ingredients; Pewter, or even Silver, not at all ſo well agreeing with Oyl and Vinegar, which leave their ſeveral Tinctures. And note, That there ought to be one of the Diſhes, in which to beat and mingle the Liquid Vehicles; and a ſecond to receive the crude Herbs in, upon which they are to be pour'd; and then with a Fork and a Spoon kept continually ſtirr'd, 'till all the Furniture be equally moiſten'd: Some, who are huſbands of their Oyl, pour at firſt the Oyl alone, as more apt to communicate and diffuſe its Slipperineſs, than when it is mingled and beaten with the Acids; which they pour on laſt of all; and 'tis incredible how ſmall a quantity of Oyl (in this quality, like the gilding of Wyer) is ſufficient, to imbue a very plentiful aſſembly of Sallet-Herbs.
The Sallet-Gatherer likewiſe ſhould be provided with a light, and neatly made Withy-Dutch-Basket, divided into ſeveral Partitions. Thus inſtructed and knowing in the Apparatus; the Species, Proportions, and manner of Dreſſing, according to the ſeveral Seaſons you have in the following Table.
It being one of the Inquiries of the Noble [59]Mr. Boyle, what Herbs were proper and fit to make Sallets with, and how beſt to order them? we have here (by the Aſſiſtance of Mr. London, His Majeſty's Principal Gard'ner) reduc'd them to a competent Number, not exceeding Thirty Five; but which may be vary'd and inlarg'd, by taking in, or leaving out, any other Sallet-Plant, mention'd in the foregoing Liſt, under theſe three or four Heads.
But all theſe ſorts are not to be had at the very ſame time, and therefore we have divided them into the Quarterly Seaſons, each containing and laſting Three Months.
Note, That by Parts is to be underſtood a Pugil; which is no more than one does uſually take up between the Thumb and the two next Fingers. By Faſcicule a reaſonable full Grip, or Handful.