16 2 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTOBY. [Book XIX. 



while the Cleonaean turnip, 84 on the other hand, is of an elon- 

 gated form. Those, in general, which have a thin, smooth leaf, 

 are the sweetest ; while those, again, the leaf of which is rough, 

 angular, and prickly, have a pungent taste. There is a kind 

 of wild turnip, 85 also, the leaves of which resemble those of 

 rocket. 86 At Rome, the highest rank is given to the turnips 

 of Amiternum, 87 and those of Nursia ; after them, those grown 

 in the neighbourhood of the City 88 are held in the next de- 

 gree of esteem. The other particulars connected with the 

 sowing of the turnip have been already mentioned 89 by us when 

 speaking of the rape. 



CHAP. 26. RADISHES. 



Radishes are composed of an outer coat and a cartilaginous 

 substance, and in many instances the rind is found to be thicker 

 than the bark of some trees. This plant is remarkable for its 

 pungency, which increases in proportion to the thickness of the 

 rind : in some cases, too, the surface of it assumes a ligneous 

 nature. Radishes are flatulent 90 to a remarkable degree, and 

 are productive of eructations ; hence it is that they are looked 

 upon as an aliment only fit for low-bred people, 91 and this 

 more particularly if cole worts are eaten directly after them. 

 If, on the other hand, they are eaten with green olives, the 

 eructations produced are not so frequent, and less offensive. 

 In Egypt the radish is held in very high esteem, on account 

 of the abundance of oil 92 that is extracted from the seed. In- 



84 Radish. 85 Properly radish. 



86 See B. xx. c. 49. Fee queries whether this radish may not be the 

 Raphanus raphanistrum of botanists. See B. xviii. c. 34. 

 & See B. xviii. c. 35. 



88 " Nostratibus." Poinsinet would render this, " Those of my native 

 country," t. e. the parts beyond the Padus. As Pliny resided at Rome 

 during the latter part of his life, there can be little doubt but that he al- 

 ludes to the vicinity of Rome. 



89 See B. xviii. c. 34. 



90 This property extends to most of the Cruciferae. 



91 " Cibus illiberalis." 



92 The variety Oleifera of the Raphanus sativus is still cultivated exten- 

 sively in Egypt and Nubia for the extraction of the oil. The variety 

 Oleifera of the Brassica napus is also greatly cultivated in Egypt. Fee 

 suggests that Pliny may possibly confound these two plants under the one 

 name of " raphanus." It is worthy of remark, too, that the Colza oil, so 

 much used in France and Belgium for burning in lamps, is expressed from 

 the seed of the Brassica oleracea, a species of cabbage. 



