x FOOD AND FOOD-PLANTS 127 



between the Far East and the West largely began 

 through the desire of the West to have the spices 

 and the pepper of the East. We must not, there- 

 fore, forget these flavouring plants in speaking of 

 man's vegetable food, though they rather help to 

 render his food digestible and palatable, than act as 

 food themselves. Nor should we forget such plants 

 as tea, coffee, or cocoa, which yield stimulating 

 drinks, used by all civilised people. 



CHAPTEK XI 



THE CHIEF KINDS OF FOOD-PLANTS 



WE must consider next the kinds of plants which 

 give to man the most valuable seeds, roots, and 

 fruits. 



As regards seeds, two families are by far the 

 most important, these families being the Grass 

 family and the Pea family. It is not too much to 

 say that man could not have spread over the globe 

 as he has done, if it were not for the existence 

 of these two families. Here and there, it is true, 

 scattered over the different quarters of the globe, 

 we may find small groups of men who owe little to 

 these plants ; but it is true for the vast majority, 



