This is a family story that is about 100 to 140 years old. My grandfather, Dirk Christiaan Schuit, was a teacher in Leiden and went on an excursion to the Hortus botanicus with colleagues. The hortulanus (head gardener) at the time was known for being able to identify any plant by its seed. Knowing this, the gentlemen brought dried herring roe with them. Embarrassed, the hortulanus promised to sow it and report back to them in due course. After some time, the men were invited to see the results and were shown a little bed where the herring heads had already started to sprout.
