376 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



WHEAT. TRITICUM.—/^ Greek, FIupAg. 



Natural order, Gramina. A genus of the 

 Triandria Digynia class. 



The Latin name Triticum, which we give 

 to our common wheat, signifies also any kind 

 of corn, which is thrashed from the ears, and 

 made clean by winnowing, &c. Bread corn 

 was called by the Latins Cerealia semina. 



" Of golden wheat, the strength of human life." 



Phillips. 



This corn, which is so essential to the sup- 

 port of man, seems to have blessed the land 

 where the Almighty, in his infinite goodness 

 and wisdom, placed him after his disobe- 

 dience. That w r e have not discovered any 

 part of the world where wheat grows spon- 

 taneously, is an additional proof of the truth 

 of the Scriptures, if proofs were wanting. For 

 the Lord God said unto Adam, " In the 

 sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till 

 thou return unto the ground." 



Cain was a tiller of the ground, and Noah, 



