151 



RYE.— SECALE. 



Natural order, Gramina. A genus of ike 

 Triandria Digynia class. 



This corn, of which we know but one spe- 

 cies, is said to be a native of the Island of Can- 

 dia. We should rather suppose that it was an 

 indigenous grain of Egypt, since we have an 

 authentic account of its being cultivated in 

 that country, more than three thousand three 

 hundred years ago. When Moses called 

 down the plague of hail upon Egypt, " the 

 wheat and the rye were not smitten ; for 

 they were not grown up."* 



Both the winter and the spring varieties 

 have been for many ages cultivated in this 

 country ; and in all probability it was among 

 the earliest grains sown in these kingdoms. 



Secale is so called a secando, from cutting ; 

 as opposed to leguminous plants, whose fruits 

 used to be gathered by the hand. 



* Exodus ix. 32. 



