124 M. Link on the Ancient History of 
Gnscus magno easel proventu ; propter quod maxlme mlror ra- 
rum esse in Italia. Dioscorides describes (1. iv. c. 113.) the 
cytlsus as a whitish shrub, like the Rhamnus^ with branches an 
ell long, with leaves like those of Foenum Gracum., or r^i- 
cpvxxog^ only smaller, and having a larger middle row ; which 
leaves being rubbed, give out a smell like Brasslca Eruca^ and 
taste like green chick-pease. This suits Medlcago arhorea ex- 
tremely well. He adds, some plant it for the sake of bees. 
There is thus not a word about its cultivation as fodder, which 
on other occasions Dioscorides did not use to overlook : he even 
separates it entirely from such plants, and treats of it in another 
place, among the shrubs. Varro only mentions the cytlsus inci- 
dentally among the fodder plants (1. i. c. 23. § 3.^ 1. ii. c. 1 . § 26. 
1. ii. c. 2. § 28.), and always along with medlca. He also says, 
that two Spaniards, brothers, had planted it for the sake of 
bees (1. hi. c. 16. § 14.), and by that means became rich. But 
Columella distinguishes, in regard to bees, between the Cytlsus 
su(£ spontls and Cytlsus sativa (1. ix. c. 4.) ; and especially in 
Spain, but also in Italy, there are so many species of Cytlsus 
and SpartlUm^ which afford the materials of honey to the bees, 
that they might easily be used instead of the true cytlsus. Co- 
lumella speaks circumstantially of the cultivation of cytlsuSyhut 
not where he is speaking of plants for fodder^ but of nurseriesj 
and says, (L v. c. 11.), At prlusquam Jinem llbrl Jaclamus^ de 
cytlso dlcere tempestlvum est. Then follows an entire chapter 
on the culture of cytlsus^ which seems, however, to have been 
borrowed from the Greek of Andromachus. This is probable 
from comparing it with the notices in Pliny, who follows Aris^ 
tomachus in his own account, but, as usual, often after a hasty 
and incorrect perusal. The Geoporiica mentions the cytlsus on- 
ly incidentally, and not as fodder (1. x. c. 3. § 8., 1. xiv. c. 16. § 8.^ 
1. xv. c. 2. § 6.) ; only (1. iii. c. 1. § 8.) it is said the cytlsus 
should be cut green in January ; which direction is taken 
x.cd rm Kvmxim^ and from some Roman writers, who 
doubtless had their information from Aristoinachus, since the 
time of the year which is mentioned agrees better with the cli- 
mate of Egypt than of Rome. We also find (1. xvii. c. 8. § 1.) 
the account of Didymus, that milch cows should be fed with 
Cytlsus or Medlca^ but that it should be throwti to them but 
