96 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



as that of Cumes, which bears leaves spread- 

 ing flat along the ground, and opening in 

 the head ; those of Aricia are tall, and send 

 forth numerous buds. The colewort Pompe- 

 ianum, so called from the town Pompeii, 

 also grows high, and sends out many tender 

 sprouts." The coles of Bruzze, or Calabria, 

 like the winter best, and are nourished by 

 the hard season ; their leaves are described 

 as being very large, their stalks small, and 

 their taste acrid. The Sabellian coles, with 

 curled and ruffed leaves, are mentioned as 

 having a small stem, which supports heads 

 of a wonderful size: these were reputed the 

 sweetest. 



" It is not long," says the same author, 

 " since we have procured a kind of cabbage- 

 cole from the vale of Aricia with an exceed- 

 ingly great head and an infinite number of 

 leaves, which gather round and close toge- 

 ther." These he calls Lacuturres, from the 

 place whence they came ; he adds, there are 

 some coles, which stretch out into a round 

 shape, others extend in breadth, and are 

 very full of fleshy brawns ; some are described 

 as bearing a head twelve inches thick, and 

 yet it was observed, that none put forth more 

 tender buds than these. It was noticed that 



