LESSON 4.] 



GUMS AND SUGARS. 



15 



83. There are no two forms or species of starch precisely alike, 

 and the points of difference, although frequently minute, become 

 characteristic; thus it will be seen that the starch of Indian corn 

 (Fig. 19) differs materially from the forms yet presented. 



84. The starch of Wheat (Fig. 20) offers another variety ; here 

 the corpuscle is nearly round, the hilum always in the centre, and 

 only one ring surrounding it. 



85. We have examined the largest form of starch (Tous les mois) ; 

 we will now consider the smallest, Rice. The starch of this plant 

 (Fig. 21) is remarkable no less for the great irregularity of its form 

 than for its minuteness. The question has yet to be determined 

 whether or not starch be more or less nutritive in proportion to its 



FIG 19. 



FIG. 



FIG. 21. 



Corpuscles of Wheat 

 Starch. 



Corpuscles of Rico 

 Starch. 



Corpuscles of Indian Corn, 

 magnified. 



size ; should it eventually be settled in the affirmative, Tous les mois 

 will undoubtedly take the first rank in the category, and Rice the 

 last; the Potato, and the contents of the leguminosse (peas, beans), 

 together with the Cereal grains, will then hold an intermediate place. 

 The Tous les mois is such a valuable form of starch, that it is much 

 to be regretted its cultivation has not been attempted in this country. 



Now that we have a " Model Farm " in our midst, it is to be 

 hoped the attempt to raise it will be speedily made, and the results 

 made known, for the good of the community. There appears to be 

 no sufficient reason why the experiment should not be eminently suc- 

 cessful. 



86. Starch is laid up by the plants forming it, as a store of nour- 

 ishment upon which they can draw for their subsistence in a season 

 of need ; hence, the quantity yielded differs in the same plant at dif- 

 ferent periods of its growth. Thus, starch abounds h>the potato 

 towards the latter part of the season, but it decreases in Spring, be- 

 cause of the germination of the tubers, which at such a time re- 

 quire to appropriate it. 



