h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

This might be quite simple, but then again, it might not...

There once was a king, who made many important and rational reforms - for example, he completely forbade torture in his kingdom, and built schools, roads, and canals for his people.

Nonetheless, though he was at war, he used a lot of soldiers to guard some fields in which he was growing plants of a type popular in baroque ornamental gardens.

1) Who was he? (And when and where does all this take place?)
2) What was he growing?
3) Why was it being guarded?

The answers to any of them will help you determine the answers to the others!

Canals, eh?

Ooh! Ohh! Ohh! Me sir! Me sir!

*sits on hands*

*peeps slightly with excitement*

You know something? Do tell!

<<*peeps slightly with excitement*>>

um, wine grape vines or trees that silk worms like?

I think I know who it is and I'd lay money on where, what plants and when...

I hadn't a clue, then one just came to me

B

No, neither grapevines nor mulberries.

So let's hear it from Ben...

come on, I want to hear this flash of inspiration!!!

Nah. I'm curious to see how things go on.

I started with a king building canals though. Not the UK, because our canals were built by private companies, and our kings at the time weren't building schools and things.

You just might make it the shortest QI thread ever!

Nah. I've said my bit. Let's see what everyone else comes up with.

B

There used to be (in the days of the ancients) a variety of wild fennel which I think is now extinct. It grew around the Mediterranean, and it was believed it was a very effective form of birth control. It was also reputed to be an aphrodisiac. Because of this it was guarded zealously and highly sought after, which might be partly why it no longer exists (through over-foraging).

The seeds of it were shaped, and some believe that's how that shape became associated with love.

I don't think it's anything to do with the question, but I thought it might be quite interesting.

It well might be

But no, it has nothing to do with this. No fennel was involved.

Worth a shot. But then why would aphrodisiacs be so important for a society on a war footing? A38582319

Dangerous territory there, KB. Very, very close to a

Really? but not with my first post? There's a clue in that then...

Is there?

I'm wondering if we're in ancient Greece, but if so I've no idea on the rest of the question.

Is it those bluddy tulips from Amsterdam? (That was the question I got wrong on Weakest Link. ) During 16something, tulip bulbs were trading for a higher price than gold, and the price crash brought the Dutch financial markets tumbling.

It wasn't ancient Greece.

And I'm afraid tulips were so predictable as to be a