CHAPTER XXX 

 SOME USEFUL PLANTS 



403. Definition of Economic Botany ; Subdivisions. — 



Economic lotany treats of the uses of plants to man. Be- 

 ginners in botany can only afford time for a brief summary 

 of the principjil uses of a few of the most important plants. 

 Some of the principal classes of plant products valuable 

 to the human race are these : 



(1) Foods for man. 



(2) Medicinal plants and their products. 



(3) Foods for domestic animals. 



(4) Fertilizers of vegetable origin. 



(5) Tanning materials, dyes, varnishes, and miscella- 

 neous products of vegetable origin. 



(6) Plant fibers, hairs, and similar products. 



(7) Plants cultivated for ornament. 



(8) ^ Timber and cabinet woods. 

 (9)1 FueL 



(1) FOODS FOR MA:^ 



404. Tlie grains constitute the main part of our food 

 supply, from vegetable sources, and are especially valuable 

 on account of their concentrated character and their keep- 

 ing qualities. The principal grains are Avheat, oats, rye, 

 barley, rice, and Indian corn. They are all the fruits of 



1 These two classes are for convenience treated in Cliapter XXXI. 

 32t 



