Chap. 36.] THE LUPINE. 49 



same nature as the rape, thrives equally well in a cold soil. 

 It is sown just before the calends of March, '^ four sextarii of 

 seed to the jugerum. The more careful growers recommend 

 that the ground should be turned up five times before putting 

 in the turnip, and four for rape, care being taken, in both 

 cases, to manure it well. Kape, they say, will thrive all the 

 better, if it is sown together with some chaff. They will 

 have it, too, that the sower ought to be stripped, and that he 

 should offer up a prayer while sowing, and say : "I sow this 

 for myself and for my neighbours." The proper time for sow- 

 ing both kinds is the period that intervenes between the fe^ti- 

 vals^° of the two divinities, jN'eptune and Yulcan. It is said, 

 too — and it is the result of very careful obseiwation — that 

 these plants will thrive wonderfully well, if they are sown as 

 many days after the festival of Neptune as the moon was old 

 when the first snow fell the previous winter. They are sown 

 in spring as well, in warm and humid localities. 



CHAP. 36. (14.) THE LTJPIIs'E. 



The lupine is the next among the leguminous plants that 

 is in extensive use, as it serves for food for man in common 

 with the hoofed quadrupeds. To prevent it from springing 

 out of the pod®^ while being gathered, and so lost, the best 

 plan is to gather it immediately after a shower. Of all the 

 seeds that are sown, there is not one of a more marvellous na- 

 ture than this, or more favoured by the earth. First of all, 

 .t turns every day with the sun,^- and shows the hour to the 

 lusbandman, even though the weather should happen to be 

 iloudy and overcast. It blossoms, too, no less than three 

 :imes, and so attached is it to the earth, that it does not re- 

 quire to be covered with the soil ; indeed, this is the only seed 

 hat does not require the earth to be turned up for sowing it. 

 '.t thrives more particularly on a sandy, dry, and even gravelly 

 oil ; and requires ne further care to be taken in its cultiva- 

 ion. To such a degree is it attached to the earth, that even 



■9 1st of March. 



8*^ The Neptunalia and the Vulcanalia ; 23rd of July and 23rd of 



lUgUSt, 



"i In consequence of the brittleness of the pod. 



^- This is an exaggeration of certain phaenomena observed in the leaves 

 t all leguminous plants. 

 VOL. IV. S 



I 



