lOS FLORA HISTORICA. 



scattered on the ground amongst the bushes or 

 briers without either ploughing or digging, and 

 that the seed readily took root without being 

 covered with earth. 



Mr. Swinburn observes, that Lupines are still 

 sown in the neighbourhood of Naples to manure 

 the land, which are hoed up before they fruc- 

 tify. This is also practised in the south of France 

 in poor dry soils, as a meliorating crop to be 

 ploughed in, where no manure is to be had, and 

 the ground is too poor for clover and other better 

 crops. 



The ancients named this plant Lupiniis, from 

 Lupus, a w^olf, on account of its voracious nature. 

 When this pulse was eaten without preparation to 

 destroy the bitter, it w^as apt to contract the 

 muscles, and give a sorrowful appearance to the 

 countenance — hence Virgil calls it Tristes Lupi- 

 nus. 



The name of Lupinus is of great antiquity; 

 and the seeds are said to have been used by the 

 ancients, in their plays and comedies, instead of 

 pieces of money: hence the proverb, Nummus 

 Lupinus, a piece of m.oney of no value, as also 

 that of Horace — 



*' Nee tamen ignorat, quid dUtcnt JEra Lupinis:' 



The French call this plant Le Lupin, the Ita- 



