22 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



rapidity of its growth. Garlic has been sub- 

 ject to the same whims of fashion as have 

 attended its near relation the onion. The 

 Egyptians worshipped it; but the Greeks 

 held it in such abhorrence, that those who 

 ate of it were regarded as profane. Persius 

 relates, that they made criminals eat of it 

 for several days, to purify them from crimes. 

 The Romans gave it to their labourers to 

 strengthen them, and to their soldiers, with 

 an idea that it excited courage in warriors. 

 They also fed their game-cocks with garlic, 

 previously to fighting them. 



Horace, however, mentions it with execra- 

 tion in his third Epode; and alluding to the 

 mowers who eat garlic, says, 



" O dura messorum ilia!" 



Olerius observes, that it was much used 

 in his time by the nobles and courtiers. 

 M. Haller notices, that the inhabitants of 

 all hot countries are fond of garlic. It is a 

 native of most of the European countries, 

 varying according to soil and climate. The 

 crow garlic, Vineale, the purple striped, Olera- 

 ceum, and several other varieties, are found 

 wild in this country; and we learn from 

 Tusser, that it was cultivated here in the 

 time of Queen Mary : his twelfth verse for 



