48 



BARLEY.— HORDEUM. 



Natural order > Gramma. A genus of the 

 Triandria Digynia class. 



The generic name seems either horridum, 

 from horres, on account of its long awns or 

 beards ; or, as it was anciently written for- 

 deum, rather from 4>epj3w, to feed or nourish, 

 whence ^opj3^ and forbea, and changing the 

 b into d, for deum* The name is, however, 

 derived by Junius from the Hebrew *n. 



Barley is evidently a native of a warmer 

 climate than Britain, for in this moist atmo- 

 sphere it is observed to degenerate, when 

 either neglected or left to a poor soil. Dr. 

 Plott speaks of barley and rye growing in the 

 same ear alternately. 



We have the best authority for its having 

 been cultivated in Syria so long back as 3132 

 years ; therefore that part of the world may 

 be fairly fixed as its native soil. 



# Vossius. 



