SUCCULENT ROOTS. 229 



in modern times. Speculations, however, raised upon 

 what might perhaps have been an exaggerated state- 

 ment of the Roman naturalist must be purely hypothet- 

 ical. It is certainly found by experience that a warm 

 climate is not so favourable to the growth of the turnip 

 as cold moist regions. Though receiving equally care- 

 ful culture, it does not attain to the same size in the south 

 as in the north of England and in Scotland, while it 

 thrives best in the west of the latter country, and in 

 those parts of Ireland where the climate is the most 

 humid. Though the colder parts of the temperate 

 regions are found most favourable for this cultivation, 

 the countries of still higher latitudes are not congenial 

 to the growth of the turnip. Those arctic climes 

 where the summer, though brief, is dry and warm, are 

 decidedly adverse to its successful cultivation. 



It is very probable that the garden culture of the 

 turnip was introduced by the Romans into this country, 

 and that, like some of the fruit-trees which they had 

 transplanted here, though neglected, it was never alto- 

 gether lost; and, if appearing to be so for a time, was 

 restored by the monks, those constant guardians and 

 fosterers of horticulture. 



. There is no doubt that this root was in cultivation 

 in the sixteenth century. Whether revived by native 

 industry, or introduced at that period by the Flemings, 

 is a question differently answered by different writers; 

 nor does the inquiry possess much interest. Turnips 

 were partially grown for many years in this country, 

 before they came into extensive notice. Horticultural 

 pursuits were at that time so little understood and 

 practised here, that even the most successful issue 

 which attended the cultivation of the turnip in Norfolk, 

 a county peculiarly adapted to its growth, failed for a 

 time to be followed by its more extended adoption ; 

 and a considerable period elapsed before it travelled 

 out of Norfolk into Suffolk, and thence into Essex. 

 VOL. xv. 20 



