152 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



The English name of this grain has no 

 affinity with that of any other language, which 

 induces a supposition, that it has been called 

 Rye after one of the Cinque-port Towns 

 in Sussex so named, and which has long 

 been celebrated for its trade in corn. In 

 years of scarcity, this kind of bread-corn was 

 brought in great quantities from Germany ; 

 it is, therefore, likely to have been called 

 Rye from the above place having been the 

 port of importation. 



Gerard says, "Rie groweth very plen- 

 tifully in the most partes of Germanie and 

 Polonia, as appeereth by the greate quan- 

 tise brought into England in times of dearth 

 and scarsitie of corne, as happened in the yeere 

 1596 ; and at other times, when there was a 

 generall want of bread-corne, by reason of 

 the abundance of rain that fell the yeere 

 before, whereby great penurie insued, as well 

 of cattell, and all other victuals, as of all 

 maner of graine. It groweth likewise very 

 well in most places of England, especially 

 toward the north." 



Turner who was both doctor of physic 

 and divinity, and who had travelled many 

 years, says in his Herbal, which he dedi- 

 cated to Queen Elizabeth, in the year 1568 : 

 " For this I do know, that in a countre 



