The Time.
It flowreth with vs not vntill August, or September sometimes, so that it hardly giueth ripe seede (as I said) neither is it of that force to purge, which groweth in these colder Countries, as that which commeth from Spaine, and other places.
The Names.
The name Cnicus is deriued from the Greekes, and Carthamus from the Arabians, yet still sativus is added vnto it, to shew it is no wilde, but a manured plant, and sowne euery where that wee know. Of some it is called Crocus hortensis, and Sarasenicus,from the Italians which so call it. We call it in English Bastard Saffron, Spanish Saffron, and Catalonia Saffron.
The Vertues.
The flowers are vsed in colouring meates, where it groweth beyond Sea, and also for the dying of Silkes: the kernels of the seede are onely vsed in Physicke with vs, and serueth well to purge flegmaticke humours.
Chap. LXXVII. Carduus. Thistles.
You may somewhat maruaile, to see mee curious to plant Thistles in my Garden, when as you might well say, they are rather plagues then pleasures, and more trouble to weede them out, then to cherish them vp, if I made therein no distinction or choise; but when you haue viewed them well which I bring in, I will then abide your censure, if they be not worthy of some place, although it be but a corner of the Garden, where something must needes be to fill vp roome. Some of them are smooth, and without prickes at all, some at the heads onely, and some all ouer; but yet not without some especiall note or marke worthy of respect: Out of this discourse I leaue the Artichoke, with all his kindes, and reserue them for our Kitchin Garden, because (as all know) they are for the pleasure of the taste, and not of the smell or sight.