The experienced market man and woman: or Profitable instructions, to all masters and mistrisses of families, servants and others, to know the goodness of all sorts of provisions, and prevent being cheated and imposed on ... butchers meat, to know whether young or old, fresh kil'd or stale ... how to know all sorts of poulterers ware ...to know the goodness of badness of all sorts of fish ... directions to prevent being defrauded in buying butter, eggs, cheese, bread, English and outlandish fruits, and other things that may turn to much profite and advantage.

Mutton young or old, fresh or stale, Weather, Ewe or Ram Mutton, Rot, &c:

IF young the flesh will pinch up tender and full again; but if old, it will remain so, especially in the skinny part. if young the fat will easily part from the flesh; if old not but with difficulty as being skinny and fibe∣rous. Ewe-mutton is of a close grain, the fat white and oyly, if pinched the flesh of a ligh∣tish red; if Weather, the grain is more open, the fat some what more firm, the skinny fal∣ling sooner when pinched up: If Ram-mutton the flesh will be a very deep yet dusky red, the Fat spungy, pinched up it soon wrinkles, the flesh, pressed rises presently, is brawny and

tough; the fat rubbed between your Fingers cast a scent Ravenish.

Pig new or stale. Turn out the leaf of the belly, if the fat be clammy or inclining to gree∣nish it is stale; if of a bright clean white co∣lour new, if the nose or mouth slaver or be clammy, it is stale, if clean and dry new, if the hindhochs be stiff it's new, if very limber stale

Pork and Brawn. In Pork the flesh pinching and breaking; the fat soft and oyly, denotes it young, the contrary old; if the Skin hip tender with your nails, it is young, if hard and ruckling then old, or of a Hog that has not been gelded till well grown.

If the flesh of a Boar, or Hog, gelded when well grown, the flesh will be hard, the fat tough, and in scenting have a different smell from o∣ther Pork, rawish and strong, the fat be full of fibers, &c.

To know the legs or hands, whether new or stale, put your finger between the bone and flesh, and if upon smelling there be any ill scent, it is turning, or if the skin be clammy, the ben∣ding of the joynt over limber, the like is to be feared. If you find many knots like hail shot, in the fat the Pork is measly, the fore-line, hind-line, &c. may be known the same way.

Brawn young or old, is known by the thinness

or thickness of the skin, if young the fat will be oyly and crumble, if old rough and moulder as it were between your finger and thumb.