9 8 
SHAKESPEARE’S GARDEN 
small form, from which all our cultivated varieties 
have been derived, called T. antiquorum , M. There 
has also been found a beardless form (T. compact-urn 
muticum ), as well as the Egyptian wheat,* spelt 
“emmer” and “einkorn” (T . monococcum , L.). The 
poet mentions wheat in many places, once as form¬ 
ing the crown of peace, Hamlet, V. ii. 41 : 
As peace should still her wheaten garland wear. 
“ White wheat” is spoken of in King Lear, III. iv. 
120, red in 2 Henry IV., V. i. 15. 
The generic term, “ corn,” occurs some twenty-three 
or more times, but it needs no comment here. The 
end of our month reminds us of another ending—that 
of harvest, with its harvest home, mell supper, 
kern supper, call it what you will, another old 
English custom now, alas ! dying fast, and yet, doubt¬ 
less, as old as the ending of the first harvest. As 
good a description as may be had is that quoted in 
Brand (vol. ii., p. 18,) from Stevenson’s, 44 Twelve 
Moneths ” ( 1661 , p. 37) : 
44 The furmenty-potf welcomes home the harvest 
cart, and the garland of flowers crowns the captain 
of the reapers ; the battle of the field is now stoutly 
fought. The pipe and the tabor are now busily set 
a-work ; and the lad and the lass will have no lead 
on their heels. O ! ’tis a merry time wherein honest 
neighbours make good cheer, and God is glorified in 
His blessings on the earth.” 
* The absurd legend of the mummy wheat has been too 
often killed to need any further attacks on its veracity. 
f A dish still much used in Yorkshire. 
