Page:Art of Cookery 1774 edition.djvu/363

Rh be in them: if new, the tial will pull smart, like a spring; if full, the middle of the tail will be full of hard, or reddish-skinned meat. Cock lobster is known by the narrow back part of the tail, and the two uppermost fins within his tail are stiff and hard; but the hen is soft, and the back of her tail broader.

THE two first, if stale, will be limber, and cast a kind of slimy smell, their colouring fading, and they slimy: the latter will be limber in their claws and joints, their red colour turn blackish and dusky, and will have an ill smell under their throats; otherwise all of them are good. IF they are stiff, and their eyes be not sunk or look dull, they are new; the contrary when stale. The best sort of plaise look bluish on the belly. IF the flesh feels oily, and the scales are stiff and shining, and it comes in flakes, and parts without crumbling, then it is new and good, and not otherwise. FOR the first, open the back to the bone, and if the flesh be white, fleaky and ily, and the bone white, or a bright red, they are good. If red herrings carry a good gloss, part well from the bone, and smell well, then conclude them to be good.

SOME grapes, the Kentish, russet, golden, French, kirton and Dutch pippins, John apples, winter queenings, the marigold, and Harvey apples, pom-water, golden-dorset, renneting, love's pearmain, and the winter pearmain; winter burgomot, winter-boncretien, winter mask, winter Norwich, and great surein pears. All garden things much the same as in December. THE same as in January, except the golden-pippin and pom-water; also the pomery, and the winter-peppering and dagobent pear. THE golden ducket-dauset, pippins, rennettings, love's pearmain and John apples. The latter boncretien, and double-blossom pear.