ANCIENT AGRICULTURE. 



219 



from all existing varieties, and invariably have smaller seeds 

 or fruits. Man has evidently in the course of time effected 

 considerable improvements. It is also very interesting to 

 observe how the evidence derived from the Swiss Lake-dwel- 

 lings agrees with that contained in. the most ancient writings 

 which we possess. Thus flax is mentioned in the Pentateuch 

 and in Homer ; it was also largely used by the ancient Egyp- 

 tians, while hemp seems to have been unknown until a later 

 period. So also wheat and barley, but neither oats nor rye,* 

 are mentioned in Exodus or by Homer. Even in the time of 

 David, when Barzillai the Gileaditef "brought beds, and 



1 Only one ear, subsequently lost. 



* According to the best Hebrew scholars, the word translated " rye" 

 in Exodus ix. 32, really means spelt, 

 f 2 Sam. xviii. 28. 



