I wonder how any one should attempt to plant it here, who has seen in _Columella_, and other Authors, the Description of the manner the old _Romans_ planted it in. They chose out the very best Land, that was both _pinguis_ and _putris_; they dung’d and till’d it to the greatest Perfection, and laid it out in Beds, as we do for Onions or Asparagus; they sow’d it very thick, for that miserable Reason of enabling it by its Thickness the better to kill the Grass. The Beds being harrow’d very fine before Sowing, which was in the End of _April_; the Seed required to be speedily cover’d, lest the Sun’s Heat should spoil it. But with what Instrument must it be cover’d? For, after Sowing, the Place must not be touch’d with Iron. _At medica obruitur non aratro, sed ligneis rastellis._ ‘_Medica_-feed is cover’d, not with the Plough, but with little (or rather light) wooden Harrows.’ Two Days Work (of a Team) were spent on this Harrowing of one Acre. Some time after it came up, they scratch’d it again and again with the same wooden Instruments: This was call’d Sarrition: Then by Runcation they weeded it over and over, _Ne alterius generis herba invalidam medicam perimat._ ‘Lest other Grass should kill it whilst it was weak.’ The First Crop they let stand till some of the Seed shatter’d, to fill the Ground yet fuller of Plants: After that they might cut it as young as they pleas’d; but must be sure to water it often after cutting. Then after a few Days, when it began to spring, they repeated their Runcation: and so continuing to weed out all manner of Grass for the First Two or Three Years, it used to bring Four or Six Crops a Year, and last Ten Years. _English_ Gardeners make Forty Pounds of an Acre of Asparagus, or Cabbage-plants, with half the Labour and Expence that was bestow’d on an Acre of _Roman Medica_. We know not the Price Hay and Grass were at in _Italy_, while the _Roman Empire_ was in its Glory, and _Rome_, then the Metropolis of the World, drew the Riches of all Parts thither; its Price must be then very high.