in Egyptian characters, telling how much was expended in rad- 
ishes, onions and garlic for the workmen. Daucus carota is 
the wild form of the cultivated carrot. It is so variable that 
several varieties of good carrots may be secured by selecting and 
cultivating it for a few generations. 
Perhaps in an account of this sort, one should not forget to 
give honorable mention at least to the pungent horse radish and 
the odorous alliums. The origin of the former is still somewhat 
of a mystery, unless Cochlearia macrocarpa of Hungary is its an- 
cestral parent. Horse-radish was another plant that was first a 
medicine and then a table friend. Gerard, an old herbalist tells 
of the antipathy between the horse-radish and the grape-vine. 
He says “Diuers thinke that this Horse Radish is an enimie to 
Vines, and that hatred between them is so great that if the rootes 
heerof be planted neere to the vine it bendeth backward from 
it as not willing to have fellowship with it.” Another ancient 
herbalist writes that its use as a condiment is all right for strong 
laboring men, but ‘‘it is too strong fortenderand gentle stomackes.” 
The onions or alliums have been long with us, all of them 
being of very ancient cultivation. In some countries in ancient 
times they were associated with religious ceremonies, and the 
Egyptians used them in taking oaths. The Emperor Nero used 
leeks and oil for his voice. At least seven distinct species, still 
found wild in the northern hemisphere, have contributed the 
numerous cultivated forms. Allium Cepa is the most important 
of these, for from it the many ordinary kinds of onions have been 
derived. 
A table of the various vegetables, giving their names, probable 
date of antiquity of cultivation, and their country of origin, is 
appended. The letters indicate a certain or probable date of 
earliest cultivation. 
A— a species cultivated for more than 4000 years. 
B— a species cultivated for more than 2000 years. 
C— a species cultivated for less than 2000 years, 
D — a species cultivated very anciently in America. 
E — a species cultivated before the discovery of America, 
without showing signs of a great antiquity of cul- 
ture. 
Name 
Dale 
Origin 
Artichoke 
C 
Southern Europe, Northern Africa, 
Canary Islands, Madeira. 
Asparagus 
B 
Europe, western temperate Asia. 
Bean (lima) 
E 
Tropical America, Brazil. 
Bean (string) 
D (?) 
Western South America. 
Beet (chard) 
B 
Canary Islands, Mediterranean region 
western temperate Asia. 
Beet (root) 
B 
A result of cultivation (?). Europe. 
Brussels sprouts 
E 
Belgium. 
Cabbage 
A 
Europe, western Asia (?). 
Carrot 
B 
Europe, western temperate Asia. 
