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CHAP. XXXI.
Of Saffron.
AS concerning Saffron (as shall be said hereafter) it loueth an indiffere•••• soyle, not strong, not dunged, but yet well eared, lying vpon the Sunne, and well digged: and it commeth verie well in the place where Onions haue growne. It loueth not water, and standeth in awe of the Moule and Mice: It groweth better, the head being set, than the seed being sowne: for indeed it is not vsed to be sowne, but the heads of it onely to be set, as the heads of Lillies, Leekes, or Sea Onions are. They are planted and set by ridges in Aprill and May. The heads are let ripen on heapes in the shadow of the Sunne, some eight daies be∣fore they be set: and this must be in such a place as is not moist. They are set in a well-digged earth with their roots, and a good distance one from another, as name∣ly, about halfe a spanne, and three ynches deepe. It groweth the better, if it be a lit∣tle footed vpon. It flowreth euerie yeare in Autumne, for one whole moneth toge∣ther, and then letteth the flower fall: but it keepeth his leaues greene all Winter long vnto the Spring, and then it beginneth to wither, and maketh no shew at all in Summer. It may continue good, being set and plant••d, for nine yeares: and then if it be remoued into some other place, it will be able to doe further good. It is true that it springeth forth manie cloues and kernels, which must be taken away euerie three yeare, or else the root would be choaked and smothered. Some doe set it (as being the best time) from after mid August vnto mid September, and cast at the roots of it the drosse of Grapes as it commeth from the Presse, and leaue it in the earth two or three yeares: and euerie yeare, in Aprill and May, the dried part of the hearbe is tyed vp and troden into the earth some two ynches deepe, without hur∣ting of the root: and after you haue cleansed the grassie part and leaues thereof, and that the flower shall be ripe, as in August, and toward Autumne, it shall be gathered in the morning at Sunne-rise, and reserued in a close and drie place. Furthermore, the Saffron is knowne to be good, if it be fat: if being holden in your hand, it make a noyse: and if being put into anie liquor, it dissolue: if being handled and held vp to the face, it procure a certaine kind of biting or pricking vn∣to the eyes: if it be of a golden colour: if it dye the hand with his colour, and haue somewhat a ••harpe smell and pricking: and if it be not brittle and verie readi•• to breake.
Saffron taken in a verie small quantitie, is good for the weakenesse of the sto∣macke, and fainting of the heart: it keepeth from being drunke, and healeth the bi∣tings of Serpents and Spiders: if it be taken inwardly, or applyed outwardly, in great quantitie, it procureth swimming and paine in the head, and bringeth a ••oggie mist ouer the eyes.