BOOK II. VI. 2-vii. 2 



this. This, again, is a variety of siligo. The other 

 kinds of w^heat, except for those who find pleasure in 

 a great variety of crops and in idle vainglory, are 

 superfluous. Of emmer, however, we commonly see 3 

 four varieties in use : the, far which is called Clusian," 

 of a white and shiny appearance ; that called vennu- 

 culum,'' one kind reddish and the other white, but both 

 of greater weight than the Clusian; the three- 

 months far, called, halicastrum,'^ which is excellent 

 both in weight and in goodness. But these kinds of 4 

 wheat and emmer should be kept by farmers for this 

 reason, that seldom is any land so situated that we can 

 content ourselves with one kind of seed, as some 

 strip which is either swampy or dry cuts through it. 

 Further, wheat grows better in a dry spot, while 

 emmer is less harmed by moisture. 



VII. Though there are very many kinds of pulse 

 or legumes, those observed to be most pleasing and 

 useful to man are the bean, the lentil, the pea, the 

 cow-pea, the chick-pea, hemp, millet, panic grass, 

 sesame, lupine, also flax and barley, because from 

 the last named is made tisana '^ or barley-grits. Like- 

 wise of the fodder crops the best are Medic clover 

 and fenugreek, and vetch no less so; and next in 2 

 order are chickling-vetch, bitter vetch, and mixed 

 fodder made from barley. But of this number we 

 shall fii'st discuss those which are sown for our own 

 sake,*" keeping in mind that very ancient rule in which 



<» So called from Clusium, a town of Etniria, now Chiu.si. 



* The derivation of the word is not known. 



' Or alicastruni, defined by Isidore {Orig. XVII. 3. 9) as 

 similar to the Greek alica. 



^ Greek ■micia.vr], hulled and crushed barley. 



* As against fodder plants for animals; cf. II. 10. 24, 



