And thus have we done with the various Species of all such Esculents as may properly enter the Composition of our Acetaria, and cold Sallet.  And if I have briefly touch’d upon their Natures, Degrees, and primary Qualities, which Intend or Remit, as to the Scale of Heat, Cold, Driness, Moisture, &c. (which is to be understood according to the different Texture of their component Particles) it has not been without what I thought necessary for the Instruction of the Gatherer, and Sallet-Dresser; how he ought to choose, sort, and mingle his Materials and Ingredients together.

What Care and Circumspection should attend the choice and collection of Sallet Herbs, has been partly shew’d.  I can therefore, by no means, approve of that extravagant Fancy of some, who tell us, that a Fool is as fit to be the Gatherer of a Sallet as a Wiser Man.  Because, say they, one can hardly choose amiss, provided the Plants be green, young, and tender, where-ever they meet with them:  But sad experience shews, how many fatal Mistakes have been committed by those who took the deadly Cicutae, Hemlocks, Aconits, &c. for Garden Persley, and Parsneps; the Myrrhis Sylvestris, or Cow-Weed, for Chaerophilum, (Chervil) Thapsia for Fennel; the wild Chondrilla for Succory; Dogs-Mercury instead of Spinach:  Papaver Corniculatum Luteum, and horn’d Poppy for Eringo; Oenanthe aquatica for the Palustral Apium, and a world more, whose dire effects have been many times sudden Death, and the cause of Mortal Accidents to those who have eaten of them unwittingly:  But supposing some of those wild and unknown Plants should not prove so deleterious and [47]unwholsome; yet may others of them annoy the Head, Brain, and Genus Nervosum, weaken the Eyes, offend the Stomach, affect the Liver, torment the Bowels, and discover their malignity in dangerous and dreadful Symptoms.  And therefore such Plants as are rather Medicinal than Nourishing and Refreshing, are studiously to be rejected.  So highly necessary it is, that what we sometimes find in old Books concerning Edules of other Countries and Climates (frequently call’d by the Names of such as are wholsome in ours, and among us) mislead not the unskilful Gatherer; to prevent which we read of divers Popes and Emperors, that had sometimes Learned Physicians for their Master-Cooks.  I cannot therefore but exceedingly approve of that charitable Advice of Mr. Ray [48](Transact.  Num. 238.) who thinks it the Interest of Mankind, that all Persons should be caution’d of advent’ring upon unknown Herbs and Plants to their Prejudice:  Of such, I say, with our excellent [49]_Poet_ (a little chang’d)