150 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COTTESWOLD CLUB 



pursuits, to erect magnificent buildings and pyramids, and 

 to invent elaborate systems of religion. 



Theophrastus and Pliny make frequent mention of 

 wheat, for it was used among the Greeks and Romans. 

 When Caesar landed in Britain he found wheat growing in 

 the island, which, possessing a temperate climate, is well 

 suited to its cultivation. In early times in this country 

 corn was grown for several years running on the same 

 ground, and then the land was allowed to fall down to 

 grass, which was after a time ploughed up again for corn. 

 But in process of time the system of seeding with clover 

 and artificial grasses was introduced. The clover, by 

 means of its broad leaves, attracts the nitrogen from the 

 atmosphere and stores it up in the nodules on its roots to 

 the great benefit of the succeeding corn crop. And, 

 moreover, the clover itself provides an abundant supply of 

 green food and of dry fodder for live stock. 



Another domesticated plant which has produced an 

 important effect upon civilization is the turnip, which is 

 not a truly British plant, but was introduced by the 

 Romans, having been previously evolved by years of 

 cultivation from a wild plant with a slender and worthless 

 root. The culture of the turnip was discontinued in this 

 country for a time, but in the 1 6th century the Flemings 

 brought in several vegetables, and it is supposed the 

 turnip among them. But for many years after it was 

 chiefly used as human food, being sometimes mixed with 

 flour and made into bread. This was notably the case 

 in 1629 and 1630, which were years of dearth. 



But in the i8th century Lord Townsend, who was 

 Secretary of State to Kings George 1st and George 2nd 

 greatly promoted the growth of the turnip as a regular 

 farm crop as food for animals, and turnips have for some 

 time taken their place in the four course system of agri- 

 culture — wheat, turnips, barley, clover. 



