380 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



ticed by Sophocles, the Greek tragedian, as 

 far back as the time of Alexander. 



Pliny says, that, in his time, of all the kinds 

 of wheat imported into Italy, that which 

 came from France was the lightest : that 

 wheat growing about Lombardy beyond 

 the Po, weighed from 25 to 26 lbs. the 

 modius. The Sardinian wheat was half a 

 pound in a modius heavier than the French; 

 and that of Alexandria exceeded it about 

 two-thirds of a pound. The Boeotian wheat 

 was a full pound, and that of Africa, a pound 

 and three-fourths, heavier than that of Gaul. 

 This author observes, that as wheat is sub- 

 ject to mildew, the wiser husbandmen in 

 the country sow principally barley, and no 

 more wheat than will serve for the provision 

 of their household. 



The wheat sown near the Thracian gulf 

 was said to be ripe in forty days after it was 

 sown. This wheat yielded no bran, and was 

 the heaviest of any known. 



Sicily is said to be the first country in Eu- 

 rope where grain was cultivated. Ceres was 

 not only worshipped in that island, but is 

 often represented on the ancient Sicilian 

 coins. She taught the art of tilling the earth, 

 and sowing corn ; therefore, they sacrificed to 



