330 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



of the war occasioned by the French Revolu- 

 tion, induced the farmers to drain their lands 

 where formerly waters were suffered to con- 

 gregate and become stagnated, and where 

 vegetable matter would naturally putrefy and 

 corrupt the air. In justice to the age we 

 live in, it must be remarked that the lower 

 orders of the country people were never 

 better , fed or clothed than during the late 

 war, notwithstanding the high price provi- 

 sions bore, which circumstance also proved 

 a powerful defence against this autumnal 

 complaint. 



The ancient authors make but slight men- 

 tion of the marigold ; Columella notices it in 

 his 10th book, under the name of Calthce. 



" Candida Leucoia et flaventia lumina Calthae." 



Stock gilliflowers exceeding white, 



And marygolds most yellow bright. Gerard. 



Virgil notices the flower in the second 

 Eclogue of his Bucolicks. 



" Cassia and Dill are added to the store, 

 With cowslips, marigolds, and many more 

 In order wove, a garland to complete, 

 Adorn'd with every flower and every sweet." 



Gay, in his burlesque Pastorals, gives this 

 riddle : 



