That kind of cabbage which we call savoys was supposed to flourish best in saline spots, on which account the gardeners used to sift pounded nitre[1438] over the beds where it was sown, as was the practice also in Egypt. In and about Alexandria,[1439] however, there was said to be some peculiar quality in the earth which communicated a bitter taste to the cabbage. To prevent this they imported cabbage-seed from the island of Rhodes, which produced good plants the first year, but experienced in the second the acrid influence of the soil.[1440] Kumè was celebrated for its fine cabbages, which, when full-grown, were of a yellowish green colour, like the new leather sole of a sandal. Broccoli and sea-kale and cauliflowers would appear to have been commonly cultivated in the gardens of the ancients. There was, likewise, among them a sort of cabbage supposed to have some connexion with the gift of prophecy;[1441] and by this, probably, it was, that certain comic personages used to swear, as Socrates by the dog, and Zeno by the caper-bush. ----- Footnote 1438: Geop. ii. 41. Footnote 1439: Athen. ix. 9. Suid. v. κράμβη. t. i. p. 1518. b. Cf. Foës. Œconom. Hippoc. v. κραμβίων. p. 214. Dioscorid. ii. 146. Footnote 1440: Cf. Steph. Byzant. de Urb. p. 488. b. Footnote 1441: Cf. Casaub. Animadv. in Athen. ix. 9. t. x. p. 24. ----- Radishes[1442] were rendered sweet by steeping the seeds in wine and honey, or the fresh juice of grapes: Nicander speaks of preserved turnips.[1443] Parsley-seed was put into the earth in an old rag, or a wisp of straw,[1444] surrounded with manure, and well-watered, which made the plant grow large. Rue they sowed in warm and sunny spots, without manure.[1445] It was defended from the cold of winter by being surrounded with heaps of ashes,[1446] and was sometimes planted in pots, probably to be kept in apartments for the sake of its bright yellow flowers,[1447] and because, when smelt, it was said to cure the head-ache. The juice of wild rue, mixed with woman’s milk, sharpened the sight, in the opinion of the ancients.[1448] The juice of sweet mint, which was a garden herb, squeezed into milk,[1449] was supposed to prevent coagulation, even should rennet be afterwards thrown into it. ----- Footnote 1442: Theoph. Hist. Plant. vii. 1. 3. Footnote 1443: Athen. iv. 11. Footnote 1444: Theoph. Hist. Plant. vii. 4. 2. 6. 4. Aristoph. Concion. 355, et schol. Footnote 1445: Geop. xii. 1. Footnote 1446: Geop. xii. 25. 1. Footnote 1447: Cf. Sibth. Flor. Græc. tab. 368. Footnote 1448: Dioscor. iii. 53. Geop. xii. 25. 4. Footnote 1449: Geop. xii. 24. -----