738 GRAMINACEA. 
sugzr, barley-sugar, and hard-bake, are all familiar preparations of sugar. 
Both molasses and treacle are capable of fermentation by yeast ; and then 
yield by distillation rum. Refined sugar and treacle are official in the 
British Pharmacopeeia. 
Secale cereale, Common Rye, is much cultivated in the northern parts of 
the world for its grain, which is extensively employed for making bread. 
Kye bread retains its freshness for a much longer time than wheaten bread. 
Quass or Rye Beer is a favourite drink in Russia. Rye is also used by the 
distillers. When roasted it has been employed as a substitute for coffee. 
Rye is subject to a disease called Ergot, produced by the attack of a fungus 
(see Claviceps), when its grains assume an elongated and somewhat curved 
form. The diseased grains are commonly known as Ergot of Rye or 
Spurred Rye, which in certain doses is poisonous to man and other animals. 
Medicinally, ergot is given to excite uterine contractions in labour, and for 
other purposes ; it is official in the British Pharmacopeeia. 
Setaria.—S. germanica is the source of German Millet, and S. italica of 
Italian Millet. The latter is also much used in India. The Millets are 
largely used as food. 
Stipa. —S. tenacissima or Macrochloa tenzcissim1, yields the fibre known 
under the name of Hsparto or Alfa. (See Lygeum.) This has been, of late 
years, very extensively employed for paper-making. The imports of Esparto 
are probably over 150,000 tons annually. It is collected in Spain, Tunis, 
&c. Esparto is also largely used in Spain for making matting, card baskets, 
&c., and has been so employed since the time of the Pheenicians, who are 
said to have used it extensively for like purposes.—The grain of S. pennata, 
Feather Grass, is stated to be very nutritious. 
Triticum.—T., sativum (vulgare) is the common Wheat.—A great many 
varieties of Triticum are cultivated, as 7. aestivum, Spring or Summer 
Wheat; 7. hybernum, Winter Wheat; 7. compositum, Egyptian Wheat or 
Many-eared Wheat; 7. polonicum, Polish Wheat, and others.—T. Spelta, 
vielding the Spelt varieties, is a distinct species. The grains of the several 
varieties of Triticum are commonly used in this and some other temperate 
countries for making bread, and for their starch. Wheat starch is official in 
the British Pharmacopeeia, together with Rice and Maize Starch, under the 
common name of ‘ Amylum.’ Both ‘ Wheaten Flour’ and Crumb of Bread 
are also official. Various nutritious foods are also prepared from wheat 
grains, as Semolina, Soujee, Manna Croup, Vermicelli, Maccaroni, Cagliari 
or Italian Paste, &e.—T’. repens.—A decoction of the creeping stems has 
been used with success in mucous discharge from the bladder. 
Zea Mays is the Indian Corn or Maize Plant. The grain is extensively 
used in warm countries. It is the most fattening of all the cereals, but it 
frequently produces diarrhea. The roasted cobs or ears are sold in India, 
as chestnuts similarly treated are in this country. The immature ears are 
sometimes eaten as a vegetable. Maize meal is sold under the name of 
polenta, and the fine flour as maizena, both of which are much used as food 
here and elsewhere. In South America a kind of beer, called Chica or 
Maize Beer, is made from the grain, and is extensively used. Maize starch is 
also official in the British Pharmacopeia, under the name of ‘ Amylum,’ with 
Rice and Wheat Starch. In Western Africa a favourite fermented beverage 
is also prepared from Maize, called pitto or peto. The silky styles and stigmas 
of this plant have been recommended as of service in gravel and nephritic 
colic. 
Zizania aquatica yields a serviceable grain known as Canada Rice or 
Swamp Rice. Zizania straw has been recommended as a very valuable 
paper material, and a company has been formed to work it in the province 
of Ontario, the only province in which the plant grows to any useful 
extent. 
