68 



CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



The ancients made use of beans in gather- 

 ing the votes of the people, and for electing 

 the magistrates. A white bean signified ab- 

 solution, and a black one condemnation. 

 From this practice, we imagine, was derived 

 the plan of black-balling obnoxious persons. 



The Roman husbandmen had a religious 

 ceremony respecting this pulse, somewhat 

 remarkable ; when they sowed corn of any 

 kind, they took care to bring some beans 

 from the field, for good luck's sake, super- 

 stitiously thinking that by such means their 

 corn would return home again to them ; 

 these beans were then called Refrince or 

 Re/erina. The Romans carried their super- 

 stition even farther, for they thought that 

 beans mixed with goods offered for sale at 

 the ports, would infallibly bring good luck 

 to the seller. 



Columella notices them in his time as 

 food for the peasants only : — 



" And herbs they mix with beans for vulgar fare." 



Pliny states that the sowing of beans 

 is equal to manure for land, and enriches 

 it exceedingly ; and that in the vicinity of 

 Macedonia and Thessaly, the custom was 

 to plough them into the ground just as 

 they began to bloom. This author adds, 



