390 



must not be effected at a period of much wetness. Wide 

 sand tracts would be uninhabitable, if it was not for the 

 facility to provide human sustenance from this grateful corn. 

 It dislikes moist ground. Sandy soil gives the best grain. 

 It is a very remarkable fact, that since ages in some tracts 

 of Europe Eye has been prolifically cultivated from year to 

 year without interruption. In this respect Eye stands 

 favorably alone among alimentary plants. It furnishes in 

 cold countries also the earliest green-fodder, and the return 

 is large. When the Eye-grain becomes attacked by Cordy- 

 ceps purpurea, Er., or very similar species of fungi, then it 

 becomes dangerously unwholesome, but then also a very 

 important medicinal substance, namely Ergot, is obtained. 

 The biennial Wallachian variety of Eye can be mown 

 or depastured prior to the season of its forming 

 grain. In alpine regions Wallachian Eye is sown with 

 Pine-seeds, for shelter of the Pine seedlings in the first 

 year. 



Sechium edule, Swartz. 



West India. The Chocho or Chayota. The large root of this 

 climber can be consumed as a culinary vegetable, while the 

 good-sized fruits are also edible. The plant comes in climates 

 like ours to perfection. 



Selinum anesorrhizum, E. v. M. 



(Anesorrhiza Gapensis, Ch. and Schl.) 



South Africa. The root of this biennial herb is edible. A. 

 montana, Eckl. and Zeyh., a closely allied plant, yields like- 

 wise an edible root, and so it is with a few other species of 

 the section Anesorrhiza. 



Sesamum Indicum, L. 



The Gingili. Southern Asia, extending eastwards to Japan. 

 This annual herb is cultivated as far as 42° ~N.li. The oil, 

 fresh expressed from the seeds, is available for table use. 

 One of the advantages of the culture of this plant consists 

 in its quick return of produce. The soot of the oil is used 

 for China-ink. 



