228 PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



even then neglected for the more common kinds of the Proper 

 Grasses. 



The Proper Grasses are arranged in about 80 genera, and form 

 near 340 species. The Sedge Grasses are in 14 genera, and 

 more than 250 species. Both orders are most extensively dif- 

 fused from the equator to the limits of perpetual snow, on hills 

 and mountains and valleys, in woods and ditches, and ponds and 

 open fields, and sands and marshes of the seashore. The Proper 

 Grasses are more abundant in the temperate and northern regions, 

 while the Sedges become more abundant as we approach the trop- 

 ics, and within the tropics. Of the latter, too, the Carices and 

 Scirpi, which are numerous at the North, become less abundant 

 towards the equator. The species of both orders in North 

 America are nearly 600. This wide diffusion of the plants, 

 which are of the last importance to man and beast, cannot be con- 

 templated without a direct reference of the mind to the munificent 

 goodness of the great Creator. 



Of the most important grasses, some are known to have been 

 introduced from the eastern continent, and many more are supposed 

 to have been so, while others were found originally in this country. 

 Thus, rice was introduced from Asia, and the sugar-cane from 

 India, while Zea, our Indian corn or maize, is a native of America. 



The grasses may be considered, 



1. As food for man. Rice, maize, wheat, rye, barley, and 

 oats, are the principal articles of food over five districts of the 

 earth, from south to north. 



In the torrid zone, rice and maize are great sources of food. 

 Their cultivation extends into the temperate zone, where wheat is 

 associated with them. At length rice disappears, and the wheat 

 prevails associated with maize ; and more to the north, rye pre- 

 sents itself. Wheat and maize chiefly disappear in higher latitudes, 

 and rye prevails, attended by barley and oats, till the latter forms 

 the chief article for bread. In Russian America, at latitude 57°, 

 rye and barley are ripened ; while on the east side of the con- 

 tinent they do not grow in so high a latitude. In Sweden and 

 Norway, Scotland and Siberia, oats and barley are cultivated far- 

 thest to the north. 



More inhabitants are supported on the globe by rice, than by 



