0:ap. 57-] .THE MALADIES OT GARDEN PLAST3. 199 



two parts of it that are used for this purpose, the upper stalks 

 and the umbels of the plant. This kind of fennel is some- 

 times known by the name of " corymbia," and the parts pn^ 

 served are called " conrrabL'* 



CHAP. 57. {10.^^ THE MALADIES OF GARDEN PLASTS. 



The garden plants, too, like the rest of the vegetable pro- 

 ductions, are subject to certain maladies. Thus, for** instaccc, 

 ocimum, when old, de^renemtes into wild tiivme, and sisym- 

 brium" into mint, whi!e the seed of an old cabbage produces 

 rape, and vice versa. Cummin, too, if not kept well hoed, is 

 killed by hsemodorum,^ a plant with a single stalk, a root si- 

 milar to a bulb in appearance, and never found except in a 

 thin, meagre soiL Besides this, cummin is liable to a peculiar 

 disease of ils o\m, the scab :^ ocimum. too, turns pale at the 

 rising of the Bc^-star. All plants, indeed, will turn of a 

 yellow complexion on the approach of a woman who has the 

 menstrual discharge*' upon her. 



There are various kinds of insects," too, that breed upon the 

 garden plants — fleas, for instance, upon turnips, and cater- 

 pillars and maggots upon radishes, as well as lettuces and cal»- 

 bages : besides which, the List two are exposed to tl:e attacks 

 of slugs and snails. The leek, too. is infested with peculiar 

 insects of iis own ; which may very easily be taken, however. 

 by laying dung upon the plants, tiie insects being in the habit 

 of burrowing in it. Sabinus Tiio says, in Ids book entitled 

 ** Cepurica,'"^ which he dedicated to Maecen:is, liiat it is not 

 advisable to touch rue, cuuila, mint, or ocimum with any im- 

 plement of iron. 



^ These alKurd notions are borrowed from TWophnstiB, De Gmsia, c 8. 



*^ See B. II. c 91. 



*^ Or, ftcconhng to tame rea&a^ " limodMum,'' a parasitical phmt, 

 probal^T the LatJ^va pMjpesi of Spr»gtL Fee soggests tliat tkia plant 

 niay be the Polygonnm oonrtdTnlns oi Linnirns, or ebe <ne of the Coseste, 

 or A variety of Orobanebe. 



^ ** Scabies." A fungois cicrescaiee. Fee tbinks, now known m •* pnc- 

 dnia," or *- ur^o." 



^ See B. xrii. e. 47. Fee says that be bas met with persowL m tbeir 

 Mwnd senses, vho obsticat^lv defend the notKm bcre moitkmed br Plnr. 



^ SeeTbeophiastas,UisL'Plant.B.rii.c. 0. Many oftbesebttetii, bow- 

 erer, do not tR«ed mpom the plants, bat are onlv attracted fa tbcK. 



« "BookoaGaidoung." 



