TUBEROUS ROOTS, AND GRAIN. 



but this is so slow a process, that it is resorted to only 

 with a view of procuring new varieties. Though the po- 

 tatoe bears the name of tuberous root, the bulb does not 

 grow upon the root of the plant but on the lower branch- 

 es, which bury themselves under ground : in cultivating 

 the potatoe, it is necessary to hoe up the earth over these 

 branches, in order to cover them more completely. There 

 is a small tubercle produced by the potatoe-plant at the 

 axilla of the leaf, which being exposed to the light becomes 

 green, and is of so acrid a nature as not to be eatable. 

 Half the weight of the potatoe consists in fecula : the 

 saccharine principle may be developed in this tubercle as 

 it is in barley ; it will not produce wine* but spirit may be 

 distilled from it when fermented ; and the residue affords 

 excellent food to fatten hogs. The other half of the po- 

 tatoe consists in fibrin and mucilage. From eight to ten 

 pounds weight of potatoes per day is a proper quantity to 

 give to cattle when there is a sufficiency of hay to mix 

 with it ; but, in case of a scarcity of the latter, they will 

 consume from eighteen to twenty pounds of potatoes 

 without inconvenience. 



We may now proceed to the examination of one of the 

 most important of the vegetable productions in-civilised 

 countries, I mean corn. We have hitherto considered 

 gramineous plants as cultivated only for their leaves, un- 

 der the name of grasses : but there are many of this family 

 whose seeds are large enough to afford food for man, and 

 it is with this view that he cultivates them. These are 

 distinguished by the name of grain or corn, in Latin Ce- 

 realia, from Ceres the goddess of plenty, who is said to 

 have first introduced corn into Sicily ; but whence it orig- 

 inally came is unknown, it having never been found grow- 

 ing in a wild state. Some naturalists are of opinion that 

 we derive grain from the mountains of Persia and Thibet ; 

 a species of wheat, the Triticum Spelta, commonly called 

 Spelt, having been found growing wild in those countries. 

 Others derive its origin from Tartary. 



As corn belongs to the class of monocotyledons, the 



1856. By what other means may potatoes be produced 1 ? 1857. 

 What is said of the small turbercle at the axilla of the leaf! 1858. 

 Of what do the two halves [of potatoes consist! 1859. How has corn 

 hitherto been considered! I860. From what places has it been sup- 

 posed that corn was derived! 



