THE 



CEREAL GRAINS OR CORN PLANTS. 



No class of vegetable substances is so important to man as this, 

 either as contributing to his luxuries or as comprising articles of prime 

 necessity. The powr and prosperity of every people and nation 

 are likewise immediately dependent on the cereal grains, their nature, 

 quantity and quality; so that no subject can be more worthy of our 

 consideration. In view of these facts which must be apparent to 

 every observing mind it becomes a matter of great interest and satis- 

 faction with every American to contemplate the immense and rapidly 

 increasing productions of our country. And it cannot be less a matter 

 of curiosity and instruction to examine the nature and properties of 

 substances thus important to ourselves, to the world of mankind, and 

 to a large portion of the whole animal kingdom. 



All farinaceous seeds are divided into two classes : the first are those 

 of annual plants, comprehending the true grasses, or corn growing 

 plants. These are called cerealia, (from Ceres, the Goddess of Corn.) 

 The particular kinds of grain upon which a people chiefly depend are 

 called by them Corn, as the wheat, maize, (or Indian corn) &c., in the 

 United States ; wheat in England ; rye and oats in Scotland ; rye 

 around the Baltic ; rice in India, &c. The second class of farinace- 

 ous seeds are also chiefly from annual plants, but they are contained in 

 pods, or legumes, and hence are called leguminous seeds, or pulse. All 

 vegetable productions, useful as food, are farinaceous (from farina, 

 meal,) and such may be ground into meal, or flour. The form of 

 farina is sometimes almost a limpid fluid, and at others as hard as 

 wood. Such vegetables, therefore, as contain the most farina are best 

 for the food of man. Both seeds and tubers (extending under ground 

 by farinaceous deposites) when mature, are consequently farinaceous. 



Corn plants are all annuals in their roots and stems, as the plants 

 die after maturing their seeds. Their stem is a straw, or culm. This 

 is hollow and jointed, with leaves at each joint. The stem contains 

 silex, or flinty earth, which is useful in the arts, as well also as the 

 ashes. The principal corn plants are Wheat, Maize, or Indian corn, 

 Rice, Rye, Oats and Barley. The cereal grasses, however, comprise 

 many other grains, and some little less important. Wherever these 

 A* 



