364 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



Turnips were used in armorial bearings to 

 represent a person of good disposition, who 

 relieved the poor.* 



Democritus banished turnips altogether 

 from the table, on account of their engender- 

 ing flatulencies; while Diocles, on the other 

 hand, extolled these roots as much as the 

 former philosopher had condemned them. 



When the Samnite ambassadors visited M. 

 Curius, they found him at the fire preparing 

 his frugal meal of turnips: here they displayed 

 the treasures which were intended to bribe 

 him, but the truly great man pointing to the 

 pot in which his vegetables were boiling, 

 answered with contempt : " I prefer my 

 earthen pots to all your vessels of gold and 

 silver, and it is my wish to command those 

 who are in possession of money, while I am 

 deprived of it and live in poverty." 



Turnips were used by the ancients to re- 

 cover frozen or benumbed feet, being first 

 boiled in water and then applied as a fomen- 

 tation. This root, pounded in a mortar with 

 salt, was also esteemed a remedy for all dis- 

 eases of the feet, such as corns, swellings from 

 cold, &c. Dionysius recommended them to 

 be baked or roasted underthe ashes, and then 



# Guillim. 



