OLU MALES. 



455 



JEgttops ovata. From it, in the course of from ten to twelve years, he 

 succeeded in producing the form known as cultivated wheat. (See 

 Gardener's Chroniclf, July, 1852.) 



Secale cereale, Rye, is probably a native of Southeastern Europe and 

 Southwestern Asia. It has been cultivated for ages and is still much 

 grown in temperate climates. 



Hordeum vulgare, Barley. A native probably of the same region as 

 Rye ; has also been long under cultivation. One or two other species 

 are also grown. 



Avena saliva, the Oat, was formerly much used as food for man. 

 especially in cool climates, where it succeeds best. It is now less used. 

 Its native country is not certainly known, but it was probably northern 

 Europe or Asia. 



Oryza sativa, Rice, has been long under culture in Southeastern 

 Asia, of which country it was probably a native. It is now cultivated 

 also in Egypt, Italy, Brazil, and the Southern 

 United States. It furnishes food to more human 

 beings than any other single plant. 



Zea Mais, Maize or Indian Corn, a native of 

 the warmer parts of the New World, was culti- 

 vated by the aborigines of both North and South. 

 America before the advent of Europeans. It is 

 one of the most valuable of the cereals, and is 

 now cultivated almost all over the world. Of its 

 numberless varieties the larger are grown in the 

 hotter, and the smaller in the cooler climates. 



The more important forage grasses are the fol- J&JtS^SSS^ of 

 lowing : Rice. 



Phleum pratense, Timothy or Herd's Grass, a native of Europe is val- 

 uable on rich soils. 



Agrostu vulgaris, Red-top, a native of Europe, grows well on moist 

 soils. 



Ductylis glomerata, Orchard Grass, a native of Europe, is valuable 

 because of its growing well in the shade, and so furnishing hay and 

 pasture in orchards and woodlands. 



Poa pratensis, Kentucky Blue Grass, a native of the Eastern United 

 States and of Europe, is in the latitude of Kentucky the best of all our 

 pasture grasses. In drier regions it is small and harsh. 



Muhlenbergia glomerata and M. Mexicana constitute the " Fine 

 Slough Grass " of the Mississippi valley prairies. They furnish val- 

 uable hay. 



Several species furnish sugar : 



Saccharum officinarum. Sugar Cane, a native of the warmer parts of 

 Asia, is a large plant somewhat resembling Indian corn in size and ap- 

 pearance. From its sweet juice most of the sugar and molasses of com- 



