42.  Onion, Cepa, Porrum; the best are such as are brought us out of Spain, whence they of St. Omers had them, and some that have weigh’d eight Pounds.  Choose therefore the large, round, white, and thin Skin’d.  Being eaten crude and alone with Oyl, Vinegar, and Pepper, we own them in Sallet, not so hot as Garlick, nor at all so rank:  Boil’d, they give a kindly relish; raise Appetite, corroborate the Stomach, cut Phlegm, and profit the Asthmatical:  But eaten in excess, are said to offend the Head and Eyes, unless Edulcorated with a gentle maceration.  In the mean time, as to their being noxious to the Sight, is imputable only to the Vapour rising from the raw Onion, when peeled, which some commend for its purging and quickning that Sense.  How they are us’d in Pottage, boil’d in Milk, stew’d, &c. concerns the Kitchin.  In our cold Sallet we supply them with the Porrum Sectile, Tops of Leeks, and Eschalots (Ascalonia) of gust more exalted, yet not to the degree of Garlick.  Or (by what of later use is much preferr’d) with a Seed or two of Raccombo, of a yet milder and delicate nature, which by rubbing the Dish only, imparts its Vertue agreeably enough.  In Italy they frequently make a Sallet of Scalions, Cives, and Chibbols only season’d with Oyl and Pepper; and an honest laborious Country-man, with good Bread, Salt, and a little Parsley, will make a contented Meal with a roasted Onion.  How this noble Bulb was deified in [37]_Egypt_ we are told, and that whilst they were building the Pyramids, there was spent in this Root [38]_Ninety Tun_ of Gold among the Workmen.  So lushious and tempting it seems they were, that as whole Nations have subsisted on them alone; so the Israelites were ready to return to Slavery and Brick-making for the love of them.  Indeed Hecamedes we find presents them to Patroclus, in Homer, as a Regalo; But certainly we are either mistaken in the Species (which some will have to be Melons) or use Poetick Licence, when we so highly magnify them.

43.  Orach, Atriplex:  Is cooling, allays the Pituit Humor:  Being set over the Fire, neither this, nor Lettuce, needs any other Water than their own moisture to boil them in, without Expression:  The tender Leaves are mingl’d with other cold Salleting; but ’tis better in Pottage.  See Blitum.

44.  Orange, Arantiae (Malum aureum) Moderately dry, cooling, and incisive; sharpens Appetite, exceedingly refreshes and resists Putrefaction:  We speak of the Sub acid; the sweet and bitter Orange being of no use in our Sallet.  The Limon is somewhat more acute, cooling and extinguishing Thirst; of all the [Greek:  Oxubapha] the best succedaneum to Vinegar.  The very Spoils and Rinds of Orange and Limon being shred and sprinkl’d among the other Herbs, correct the Acrimony.  But they are the tender Seedlings from the Hot-Bed, which impart an Aromatic exceedingly grateful to the Stomach. Vide Limon.