106 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



in his temple of Delphos, they dedicated 

 turnips in lead, and beet in silver, whereas 

 radishes were presented in beaten gold. 



Moschian, a Greek writer, thought so 

 highly of this root, that he compiled one 

 whole book on the radish alone. The 

 Greeks appear to have known three varie- 

 ties, one of which was wild, and the other 

 two cultivated. 



•• The ancient Egyptians," says Pliny*," very 

 much esteemed radishes, from the quantity 

 of oil which they obtained from the seed; 

 and as this root did not pay so much tribute 

 or custom as corn, it was more profitable to 

 the cultivator." The custom of paying corn 

 as a tribute in Egypt, originated from the 

 famine, when Joseph bought all the land for 

 the king. " And Joseph made it a law over 

 the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pha- 

 raoh should have the fifth part ; except the 

 land of the priests only, which became not 

 Pharaoh's. "-f* 



Pliny observes, that radishes grow best in 

 salt grounds, and therefore they are water- 

 ed with brackish water, which, says he, is the 

 cause that the radishes in Egypt are better 



* Book xix. chap. 5. f Genesis, ch. xlvii. 26. 



