182 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



rides states farther, that it is good against 

 a surfeit. Pliny informs us, that the best 

 saffron grew in Cilicia, on a mountain called 

 Corycus, and that the next in quality grew 

 on the Mount Olympus in Lycia. The saf- 

 fron third in quality was gathered at Phle- 

 gra in Macedonia. The Sicilian saffron was 

 also esteemed by the Romans, who used it 

 as a perfume. Pliny tells us, that it was 

 steeped in wine, and then sprinkled over the 

 theatres, filling every part of the building 

 with a sweet odour. The same author says, 

 the wild crocus produces the best saffron ; 

 therefore, the planting of it in gardens was 

 deemed bad husbandry, for the plants became 

 strong and large ; but the flowers yielded 

 but few chives, and would not pay the ex- 

 pense and trouble of planting. He observes, 

 that the crocus was never used in garlands, 

 but that a chaplet of saffron, worn upon the 

 head, allayed the fumes of wine, and pre- 

 vented inebriety. It was therefore taken in 

 drink by great wine-bibbers, to enable them 

 to drink largely without intoxication. The 

 Romans also used saffron in all inflammations, 

 particularly those of the eyes ; and it was 

 esteemed good against exulcerations of the 



