15 



CHAPTER III. 



CEEEAL GKASSES. 



All grass seeds are wholesome and nutritious with very 

 few exceptions, the only deleterious seed being that of 

 Lolium temulentum. Those of the species called cereals 

 are preferred for the larger size of their grains, both 

 their size and their nutritious properties being enhanced 

 by cultivation. In this very important group of grasses 

 wheat stands pre-eminent, affording to multitudes the 

 " staff of life." 



Wheat is essentially a native of the temperate zones ; 

 it occupies a vast extent of territory in all the four 

 great divisions or quarters of the earth. In Europe, 

 the middle and south of France, England, part of Scot- 

 land, Germany, Hungary, Italy, part of Spain, Southern 

 Poland, Prussia, Austria, and Turkey it is cultivated 

 principally ; while in part of Spain, Portugal, and Greece, 

 it divides the popularity with maize and rice. In Asia, 

 the chief wheat- growing countries are those lying be- 

 tween the Black Sea on the north and the heads of the 

 Persian Gulf and the Red Sea on the south, including 

 Armenia and Palestine. In Africa, Egypt, and the 

 countries bordering on the Mediterranean, are the wheat 

 districts. In America the wheat has a very extended 



