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736 GRAMINACE. 
-_¢ 
man and other animals. Oats deprived of their husk and coarsely ground 
form Oatmeal. When divested of their husk and integuments they are 
called Greats; and these when crushed constitute Hmbden and Prepared 
Groats. Oats are also employed for the production of alcohol. 
Bambusa.—B. arundinacea, the Bamboo, and other species of Bambusa, 
are applied to many useful purposes in warm climates and elsewhere. Good 
paper is made from them in India, China, &c. The bamboo has been also 
largely exported from the West Indies to America, &c., for the purpose of 
being manufactured into paper, and some of very good quality has been 
made from it. The very young shoots are boiled and eaten like Asparagus, 
and are also used for pickles and sweetmeats. Their hollow stems are 
variously employed. In India and China the leaves are reputed to possess 
emmenagogue properties. Sir Joseph Hooker says, that in some districts ‘a 
very large kind of Bamboo is used for water-buckets, another for quivers, a 
third for flutes,a fourth for walking-sticks,a fifth for plaiting-work (baskets), 
a sixth for arrows; while a larger sort serves for bows. The young shoots 
of one or more are eaten; and the seeds of another, either raw or cooked, are 
made into a fermented drink. In China the Bamboo is used for numerous 
purposes—for water-pipes, fishing-rods, for making hats, shields, umbrellas, 
soles of shoes, baskets, ropes, paper, scaffolding-poles, trellis-work, sails, covers 
of boats, and katamarans.’ The above extract will give some idea of the 
various uses to which the Bamboos are applied. A solid silicious matter is 
commonly found in the hollow joints of the bamboo, to which the name of 
tabasheer has been given. 
Coiz lachryma is remarkable for its hard stony fruits, called Job's tears, 
which are used for beads. They are also reputed to be diuretic. 
Dactylis cespitosa (Festuca flabelloides) is the celebrated Tussac Grass of 
the Falkland Islands. It is an excellent fodder grass for cattle and horses, 
It is now grown to some extent in Shetland and some other parts of Britain. 
Eleusine.—E. coracana.—The grains of this plant constitute one of the 
millets of India ; in Coromandel it is called Matchnee. It is also cultivated 
in Japan asa corn crop. In Sikkim a kind of beer, called murwa or millet 
beer, is prepared from the grains, and is in general use by the natives. (See 
Panicum and Holcus.)—E. Tocussa is an Abyssinian plant. Its grains are 
used for food under the name of Tocussa. 
Gynerium.— G. argenteum is the elegant Pampas Grass.—- G. saccharoides, 
a Brazilian species, contains much sugar. 
Holeus.—H. saccharatus, Sorghum saccharatum, or Andropogon saccha- 
ratum, is the North China Sugar Cane or Sweet Sorgho. It is cultivated 
in China and other countries for the purpose of extracting its sugar, of 
which it is said to vield from 10 to 15 per cent. Its grain is eaten in 
Africa, and is termed Dochna. The plant has been introduced into this 
country, and has been highly recommended for cultivation as a summer 
forage for cattle, but at present our knowledge respecting it will not allow 
of any positive conclusions upon its merits being arrived at. It is now, 
however, extensively cultivated in the southern and central parts of France 
as a fodder crop.—H. Sorghum, Sorghum vulgare, or Andropogon Sorghum, ot 
which there are several varieties, is extensively cultivated in Africa, India, 
&c., for the sake of its grain, which is known as Egyptian Corn, Ivory 
Wheat, Guinea Corn, Durra, Turkish Millet, and Jaar. This grain is 
much used for food in warm countries. In this country it has also been 
employed for feeding poultry. The stems are used in the manufacture of 
carpet brooms, whisks, &c. A kind of beer called Bouza is also prepared 
from the grains. 
Hordeum, Barley.—Several species or varieties are commonly cultivated 
in cold and temperate climates for their grains: as H. d’stichon, Two-rowed 
or Long-eared Barley; H. vulgare, Bere, Bigg, Four-rowed or Spring 
Barley ; -H. hexastichon, Six-rowed Barley ; and H. zeocriton, Sprat or 
