PLANTS. 359 



wheat ; it can not, however, be used for any kind of fine 

 pastry. The seed is subject, particularly in very wet 

 seasons, to become diseased and enlarged, producing 

 Ergot or Spurred Rye. This diseased grain is injurious 

 to health when made into bread, but has been found to 

 possess important medical qualities in certain cases re- 

 quires a careful administration. Some late observers 

 have considered it a fungous or mushroom growth. Q- 



Barley (Hordeum vulgare) has a very long spike ; 

 florets arranged in six rows, two of which, when the 

 fruit or grain is ripe, are somewhat compressed, giving 

 the ear a four-sided appearance ; beards very strong ; 

 seed or grain covered with husks. Barley contains less 

 flour than the other cereals, therefore it is cultivated 

 more for the use of breweries, in making malt, than for 

 bread-stuff. Barley-bread is unknown in the United 

 States, nevertheless much barley is consumed in the 

 form of beer. It contains a large portion of mucilage, 

 which makes it very nutritive and wholesome ; therefore 

 often prepared in various ways for the use of invalids. 

 Malt is made by wetting the barley and suffering it to 

 germinate ; thus a considerable quantity of sugar being 

 developed, the whole undergoes a vinous fermentation, 

 and beer is produced. Decoctions of malt are considered 

 useful in pulmonary complaints. 



Oats (A vena sativa). This cereal is distinguished by 

 its loose and smaller panicles not spikes somewhat 

 nodding, and without beards. Fruit, or grain, is enveloped 

 in a husk, and contains less nutritive matter even than 

 barley, therefore rarely used for making bread ; although 

 in Scotland many live on it, and oat-meal porridge, or 

 groats, is often, in this country, recommended to invalids. 

 It is cultivated in the United States, and elsewhere, 



