CHAP. LVIII.
Of Saffron.
AS for Saffron, the best Farmers, and such as are most cunning in the orde∣ring of plants, doe make verie much and highly esteeme of that which is called Bastard Saffron, and of the common people tearmed Parrot-seed, being the same that old writers call Carthamus: the plant is of no vse, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 excepted, which purgeth flegmaticke humours, or else feeds Parrots, which are daintie and fine mouthed. This plant when it is growne vp being well husbanded 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ordered, beareth certaine little thicke heads, like the heads of Garleeke, and in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 middest of it a flower which one would say were Saffron. This good it doth, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that it enricheth and maketh fat the ground where it groweth: likewise it ••••••ueth no great food or maintenance, neither leaueth it any root in the earth after it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 gathered that may put forth or take any acknowledgement of, or doe any harme ••••to the soile wherein it grew. There is euerie way as much profit in tilling of this ••earbe, as there is in Anise or Fennell: when all is said, a good Farmer will make profit of euerie thing, and there is not (as we say) so much as the Garleeke and Oni∣••on, which he will not raise gaine of, by selling them at faires, most fitting for their ••••me and season, and so helpe himselfe thereof and fill his purse with money.
The ordinarie Saffron, seruing for sauces, painting and making of colours, is a ••••hing of toyle and of profit, as may be learned and easily vnderstood by the inhabi∣••••nts of Tourain, Prouence, and Portugal, where the same growes exceeding aboun∣dantly: It is planted like cammomile in the Spring, vpon heads, foure fingers off one from another: but it must be in a free and well battilled ground, not verie far, nor verie leane, but open to the Sunne: it must be well troden downe with the feet, when it shall let fall his flower: but when it buddeth and putteth forth, it must be left ••lone to natures worke. At the time of the gathering of it, you must haue linnen ••loaths to draw it out of his bell euening and morning: and after drie it well in the ••hadow of the Sunne, and ••ouer it with cleane linnens, make it cleane, and taking a∣way his white, purge it, that so it may be free from all filth, and fit to be kept in a drie place well couered, or in some vessell close stopt: and leauing in the earth the Oni∣••••ns or heads of the Saffron, with a good quantitie of Grapes, or of the drosse thereof 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it commeth from the presse put vnto them, you shall take them vp in the moneth of March when they haue brought forth fruit three yeares, and drie them in the Sun, ••eeping them after in some place that is not moist, that so you may plant them againe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 some other place and ground that is well tilled, as hath already beene deliuered at ••••arge in the fiue and thirtieth Chapter.* 1.1 Some are of judgement that it is naught for a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to vse Saffron much, and that it is a speciall venime vnto the heart: but howsoe∣••••er this be true, the profit of it is great: and therefore commodious and requisite for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Farmer, which would not that his ground should be vnprofitable vnto him. See ••ore about in the place afor••named concerning Saffron.