18 THE WHEAT CCXTUKIST. 



and Solomon, this grain is alluded to in such a manner 

 as to convey the idea that wheat was a kind of grain of 

 great value and excellence. See Ps.. cxlvii. 14, where 

 " the finest of the wheat " is spoken of as one of the 

 crowning blessings which the God of Israel lavished on 

 his obedient people. And when Solomon dipped his 

 graphic pen to portray the excellent graces of the 

 Church, nothing would convey a more impressive and 

 exalted idea of the beauty which he would describe than 

 " a heap of wheat set about with lilies." (Cant. vii. 2.) 

 Solomon sent wheat to Hiram, King of Tyre, when he 

 was erecting the Temple. And in numerous other 

 places in the Bible, from Genesis to Revelations, wheat 

 is alluded to in a manner to convey the idea that it was 

 the finest of the cereal grains, which rendered the most 

 excellent food, not only for the poor, but for the rich 

 and distinguished characters of the age. 



There is another idea concerning wheat worthy of 

 especial notice, which is, that the wheat plant flourishes 

 in proportion to the intelligence and condition of the 

 agriculture of the people. This is especially true as to 

 the condition of agriculture. If the agriculture of a 

 nation is in a low state, but little or no good wheat will 

 be found there. On the contrary, where the people are 

 industrious, well civilized, and their agriculture is in a 

 good condition, in most latitudes, good wheat — either 

 winter or spring wheat — is, or may be, raised with 

 profit, provided the climate is congenial to the produc- 

 tion of this cereal. 



Wheat an Emblem of Civilization. 

 After alluding to the wheat plant as an unequivo- 



