62 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



virtues, and recommended its use, as strongly 

 as it had been formerly condemned.* 



Galen says, basil was eaten by many per- 

 sons in his time, being corrected with oil 

 and vinegar, and that it was esteemed ser- 

 viceable to women, to dry up their milk. 



The Romans sowed the seeds of this plant 

 with maledictions and ill words, believing 

 that the more it was cursed, the better it 

 would prosper ; and when they wished for a 

 crop, they trod it down with their feet, and 

 prayed to the gods that it might not vege- 

 tate.-f* 



Lord Bacon says, in his Natural History, 

 " It is strange which is reported, that basil 

 too much exposed to the sun, doth turn into 

 wild thyme : although these two herbs seem 

 to have small affinity ; but basil is almost 

 the only pot-herb, that hath fat and succulent 

 leaves ; which oiliness if it be drawn forth 

 by the sun, it is likely it will make a very 

 great change. "j 



Gerard describes six species of basil in his 

 Herbal, that were cultivated in England 

 prior to 1597 ; and he agrees with Simeon 



* Plin. book xx. chap. 12 and 13. 



t Pliny. % Century 6. 



