separate envelopes : they are also usually _softcr,more downy, and elegant, 

 — as may be seen in the sugar cane, and others. 



4. The extra-tropical Grasses, on the other hand, far surpass the tropi- 

 cal in respect of the number of individuals. That compact grassy turf, 

 which, especially in the colder parts of the temperate zones, in spring and 

 summer, composes the green meadows and pastures, is almost entirely 

 wanting in the torrid zone. The Grasses there, do not grow crowded to- 

 gether, — but, like other plants, more dispersed- Even in the south of 

 Europe, they are less gregarious, — and rneadqw^ arc 6eldomer to be seen 

 than in the north. 



As to the distribution of individuals, the generality of species are so- 

 cial plants. The distribution of the cultivated Grasses is determined not 

 merely by climate, — but depends partly on the civilization, industry, and 

 traffic of the people — and often on historical events. Within the north- 

 ern polar circle, agriculture is found only in a few places. In Siberia, 

 grain reaches at the utmost only to 60 degrees — in the eastern parts 

 scarcely above 55 — and in Kamchatka there is no agriculture, even in 

 the most southern parts, Lat. 51 degrees. The polar limit of agriculture 

 on the northwest coast of America, appears to be somewhat [higher; for 

 in the more southern Russian possessions (57 to 52 degrees), Barley and 

 Rye come to maturity. On the east coast of America, it is scarcely a- 

 bove 50 to 52 degrees. Only inEurope — namely, in Lapland — does 

 the polar limit reach an unusually high latitude, viz : 70 degrees. Be- 

 yond this, dried fish,, and here and there potatoes, supply the place of grain. 

 The grains which extend farthest to the north in Europe, are Barley and 

 Oats. These, which in the milder climates are not much used for bread, 

 afford to the inhabitants of the northern parts of Norway and Sweden, of 

 a part of Siberia and Scotland, their chief vegetable nourishment. Rye 

 is the nest which becomes associated with these. This is the prevailing 

 grain in a great part of the northern temperate zone ; namely, in tho 

 south of Sweden and Norway, Denmark, and in all the lands bordering 

 on the Baltic, in the north of Germany, and part of Siberia. In (he zona 

 where Rye prevails, Wheat is generally to bo found, — Barley being hero 

 chiefly cultivated for the manufacture of Beer, and Oats supplying food for 

 the horses. To these there follows a zone in Europe and western Asia,whers 

 Rye disappears, and Wheat almost exclusively furnishes bread. The middle, 

 or the South of France, England, a part of Scotland, a part of Germany, 

 Hungary, the Crimea and Caucasus, as also the lands of middle Asia, 

 where agriculture is followed, belong to this zone. Here tho Vine is also 

 found : wine supplants the use of beer, in many places ; and Barley is 

 consequently less raised. Next comes a district where Wh^at still r~ 



