108 THE GARDEN OF EARTH 



What about Rice? One of the most important of 

 foods ; not so much in Europe as in Eastern lands. The 

 Rice-plant, like the Sugar-cane, is a kind of Grass ; and 

 it grows in water, and only in very hot countries, such 

 as India. Its work is to manufacture those small 

 grains, which we know well in puddings. Enormous 

 supplies of Rice are needed ; for it is the principal food 

 of the people of India, China, and elsewhere. It has 

 been said that more than half of the people in the world 

 are fed mainly on Rice. And each tiny grain, of all 

 these enormous quantities, is made 

 and shaped separately by the 

 Rice-plant. 



What about Tea? It also is 

 grown largely in India and in 

 China. Two or three hundred 

 years ago tea was a luxury, used 

 only by the very rich. Now 

 everybody, even the poorest, must 

 have his or her cup of tea. And 

 it comes to us entirely through the work of leaves. In 

 fact, as we know, tea is leaves. 



What about Cocoa ? The Cocoa or Cacao plant grows 

 in warm countries, especially in Ceylon and the West 

 Indies. It has clusters of small flowers, growing straight 

 from the trunk, or from the larger branches, not from 

 twigs or stalks. When the fruit ripens, a large pod, 

 several inches long, hangs where the flowers were ; and 

 this pod holds rows of seeds or " cocoa-beans." 



What about Fruits? Apples from the Apple-tree; 

 pears from the Pear-tree; oranges from the Orange- 

 tree; dates from the Date-palm; bananas from the 



