SUCCULENT ROOTS. 



237 



of staphylinos is minutely described by Dioscorides,* 

 and this description applies in every respect to that of 

 the carrot. Though growing wild, the plant is noticed 

 by the Greek physician as being likewise reared in 

 gardens on account of its esculent root. It is difficult 

 to trace the progress of the carrot since that period, 

 but it appears to have been always an object of culti- 

 vation among various nations. 



Umbel of the Carrot. 



Miller, and other horticulturists, have made various 

 attempts to change by culture the wild carrot into the 

 esculent one, these attempts have, however, always 

 proved unsuccessful it is therefore probable that the 

 two plants are not identical, or that the cultivated one 

 was first fostered into its present value under a warmer 

 temperature than that of Britain. Whatever may be 

 its origin, it was not, however, immediately trans- 

 planted into this country from a milder climate than 

 our own. 



* Lib. iii, cap. 59. 



