12 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



tribute more to our change of constitution, 

 caused by a change of habit and diet, than 

 to any caprice that we can ascribe to those 

 friends of humanity, who study harder, un- 

 dergo more, and are generally worse rewarded 

 for their labours, than any other class of per- 

 sons who rank as gentlemen. 



Dr. James says, " The famous remedy for 

 acute distempers, and which has very unde- 

 servedly been the subject of much ridicule, 

 I mean water-gruel, is made of oatmeal 

 boiled with water. This is endowed with the 

 same medicinal virtues as the Ptisan of Hip- 

 pocrates ; and, as an acescent aliment, is 

 very good when there is tendency to an alka- 

 line putrefaction, which is the case in most 

 acute distempers." 



Linnaeus enumerates sixteen species of 

 oat-grass, six of which are native plants. 



Of the varieties of cultivated oats there 

 are several, that were introduced in earlier 

 days than we have the means to ascertain. 

 Oats are not used in the armorial bearings, 

 either of this, or any other country, although 

 wheat, barley, rye, and beans are common, 

 and even the Guinea wheat was early used 

 in our heraldry, by the family of Grindgorge. 



