108 
DICTIONARY OF TEE 
Benevolence, Potato. 
The reader is referred to Humboldt for the history of the 
potato. In England, in the reign of James I., it was consid¬ 
ered a great delicacy, and provided only in very small quan¬ 
tities for the queen’s household. Bradley, an extensive 
writer on horticultural subjects at the beginning of the eigh¬ 
teenth century, says of potatoes, “ They are of less note 
than horseradish, radish, scorzonera, beets, and skirret; but 
as they are not without their admirers, I will not pass them by 
in silence.” It was unknown in Saxony as late as 1740, but 
cultivated earlier in Switzerland. 
Parmentier, by the most persevering labors, succeeded in 
introducing the cultivation of this useful vegetable into France, 
in the reign of Louis XYI. It had been known in Italy 
long before. 
Benevolence, Hyacinth. 
The poets are not agreed whether the hyacinth sprung from 
the blood of Ajax or that of Hyacinthus; but the flower they 
so designate was probably a kind of lily, and not our modern 
hyacinth. This, however, does not lack praise. 
Hyacinths, with their graceful hells, 
Where the spirit of odor dwells.” 
Miss Landon. 
‘ The hyacinth, purple, white, and blue, 
Which flung from its bells a sweet peal anew 
Of music so delicate, soft, and intense, 
It was felt like an odor .within the sense.” 
Shelley. 
“ Shaded hyacinth, alway 
Sapphire queen of the mid-May.” 
In the bower of Eve,— 
Keats. 
“ hyacinth, with rich inlay, 
Broidered the ground, more colored than with stone 
Of costliest emblem.” 
