Maison rustique, or The countrey farme· Compyled in the French tongue by Charles Steuens, and Iohn Liebault, Doctors of Physicke. And translated into English by Richard Surflet, practitioner in physicke. Now newly reuiewed, corrected, and augmented, with diuers large additions, out of the works of Serres his Agriculture, Vinet his Maison champestre, French. Albyterio in Spanish, Grilli in Italian; and other authors. And the husbandrie of France, Italie, and Spaine, reconciled and made to agree with ours here in England: by Geruase Markham. The whole contents are in the page following

CHAP. XXI.

Of Leekes both great and small.

LEekes,* 1.1 as well those that are long headed, as those that are round, doe not require so rich and fat a ground as the hearbes going before, and they may be sowne at all times, if it were not for the gathering of the seed: for which cause they must be sowne in December, Ianuarie, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and there it will be ripe after March and mid August, and that if from the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that they are sowne, you goe and tread vpon the Beds, and water them not but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 daies after.

They are wont to be remoued when they grow of seed, and that either into 〈◊〉〈◊〉, euerie one being set foure ynches from another, and then there is nothing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from them but the ends and tops of the leaues, or into a hole made with a sticke, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 then the roots must be made cleane and cropped off, as also manie of the leaues, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sand with the earth: or you shall plant them to make them great, if you 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a bricke vpon the head of them after you haue planted them. This must be in ••prill, May, or all Iune, to haue for Summer vse; and in August, September, and ••ctober, for the Winter vse: in anie case you must weed, water, and dung them 〈◊〉〈◊〉 times, especially the round headed ones. Furthermore, to make them verie ••••icke, put the seed of a Cucumber and of Nauets in a Reed, or in Boxe boared

through, and graft this reed into the head of the Leeke, when you plant it the se∣cond time: or else if you will haue great and grosse Leekes, you must put so much of their seed as you can hold in three fingers in an old Linnen Cloth that is foule, and put it into the earth, couering it with dung, and watering it by and by: for all this little heape of Seed, thus put together, will make one great and thicke Leeke.

Ner•• vsed euerie morning the leaues of Leekes with oyle,* 1.2 to haue a good voice•• although that Leekes be noysome to the stomacke, as being verie windie, except they be boyled in a second water. If you eat Cummin before you eat Leekes, your breath will not smell afterward of Leekes. The leaues of Leekes boiled and apply∣ed vnto the swol••e Hemorrhoids, doth verie much good both against the swelling and paine of them. The leaues of Leekes stamped with Honey, and applyed informe of a Cataplasme vnto the stingings of Spiders,* 1.3 or vpon the biting of venimou•• Beasts,* 1.4 are soueraigne remedies for the same. The iuice of Leekes mixt with vineger and rubbed vpon the browes, stayeth bleeding at the nose.* 1.5 The seed of Leekes stam∣ped and drunke with white or sweet Wine, doth heale the difficultie of making Wa∣ter. The iuice of Leekes drunke with white Wine,* 1.6 helpeth to bring Women a bed which trauell in child-birth. The seed of Leekes stampt with Myrrhe and the iuice of Plantaine,* 1.7 it good to stay the spitting of bloud, and bleeding at the nose. The seed of Leekes cast in a vessell of Wine, doth keepe the Wine from sowring: and if it should be sowre alreadie, it reneweth it, and returneth it to his former goodnesse. The iuice of Leekes, or Leekes themselues boyled in oyle, take away the paine and wormes in the eares. Leekes roasted vnder embers, and eaten, is singular good a∣gainst the poyson of To••d-stooles, and to preserue from drunkennesse, or else to dri••e 〈◊〉〈◊〉 away, being alreadie possessed. If you boyle Leekes with Earth-wormes in Oyle vnto the consumption of the third part, and afterward straine out this Oyle, it will be singular good for the vlcers and noise in the eares.

Small Leekes* 1.8 must be sowne in the Spring, at such time as other hearbs are sowne•• they make a faire shew because of their thinne and little leaues, and because also they keepe greene all the yeare long: they may seeme to be the same with Chibols and Cyues, which are wont to be vsed in Salads to helpe to temper the coolenesse of other hearbes vsed in Salads, because the Chibols and Cyues haue no head, but onely a long stalke like vnto Leekes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.2

  The vertues of L••••kes.
• * 1.3

  Poyson.
• * 1.4

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 at the 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.5

  Difficultie•• of making water.
• * 1.6

  For 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉〈◊〉-birth.
• * 1.7

  Spitting of bloud.
• * 1.8

  Small Leeks.