94 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



esteem, but thought them a base and homely 

 food; for which nice and dainty tooth of his," 

 says this author, " he was well checked and 

 stented by his father, Tiberius the emperor. 

 I dwell long on this vegetable," says Pliny, 

 " because it is in so great request in the 

 kitchen and among our riotous gluttons." 



We find that the Greeks as well as the 

 Romans esteemed it good to be eaten raw, to 

 prevent the effects of excessive indulgence 

 in wine : it was also thought to clear the 

 brains of the intoxicated, and make them 

 sober. 



It is observed by Pliny, that as coleworts 

 may be cut at all times of the year for our 

 use, so may they be sown and set all the year 

 through ; and yet, says this author, the most 

 appropriate season is after the autumnal equi- 

 nox. He adds, after the first cutting, they 

 yield abundance of delicate tops ; so there is 

 no herb in that regard so productive, until, 

 in the end, its own fertility produces its death. 

 We learn from this naturalist their manner of 

 cultivating them, as well as from whence the 

 Romans obtained these useful plants. Many 

 of the ancients, when they transplanted coles, 

 put sea-weeds under the roots, or else nitre 

 powdered, as much as they could take up 



