200 THE BEAN CEOP. 



functions of the body, by which the mental impressions 

 must always more or less be influenced. Shakspeare 

 tells us 



" "We are not ourselves, when nature, being oppressed, 

 Commands the mind to suffer with the body." 



Superstition attached sometimes good as well as un- 

 pleasant qualities to beans, inasmuch as the Roman hus- 

 bandman was accustomed to carry with him a small bag 

 of beans when he sowed his wheat or other corn, in the 

 belief that its presence would insure success to his labours, 

 and increase the produce of his crop. 



Beans, as well as others of the leguminous plants, en- 

 tered largely into the agriculture of the ancients. They 

 are fully described, and directions and advice given for 

 their cultivation, by all the Roman agricultural writers. 

 In their general directions they recommend winter sowing; 

 that the soil be strong; that it be in good heart, and well 

 manured ; and that the crop be carefully hoed and kept 

 clean from noxious weeds. All these recommendations we 

 acknowledge as correct, and are, of course, very desirous to 

 see carried out. The importance attached by the Romans 

 to the cultivation of this plant as an article of food 

 principally, it is true, for their labouring servants and 

 slaves, and for their cattle may be recognized in the fact 

 of its having given rise to one of those honourable dis- 

 tinctions which have made the family of the Fabii re- 

 membered, while most other names of that period have 

 passed entirely from history's page. 1 



We have no very correct knowledge as to the period of 

 the introduction of the bean into this country. By some 

 it is stated to have occurred shortly after the invasion of 

 Spain by the Moors, who introduced it there, whence it 



1 There were other noble names originating from this order of plants tha 

 Pisones, from pisum, the pea; the Ciceros, deer, chick-pea; the Lentuli, len- 

 tulus, lentil, &c. 



