122 



DOMESTIC BOTAKY. 



or roasted, and eaten as a vegetable : a fine flour prepared from 

 it and called Maizena, has lately come into use. In favour- 

 able summers it grows freely and ripens its " cobs" in this 

 country. 



Rice {Oryza sativa). Rice is the staple food of millions of 

 people in India, China, and other Eastern countries. In India 

 it is also used to feed the domesticated elephants. It is 

 cultivated on low lying level lands, as at some periods of its 

 growth it requires to be flooded with water, for which 

 purpose canals traverse whole districts of what are called 

 "paddy fields." In some seasons when rain fails, famine is 

 the consequence, as is frequently experienced in India. Rice 

 is extensively used in this country, large quantities being im- 

 ported from India and other Eastern countries, as also from 

 the United States, from which latter place it comes under the 

 name of " Carolina rice," which is considered of the best 

 quality. 



Canadian Rice {Zizania aquaticd). A native of North 

 America, growing in shallow waters. The blades float, and 

 the panicles of flowers rise above the surface and produce a 

 grain similar to, but longer and narrower than oats. It forms 

 a great part of the food of some of the Indian tribes. 



Manna Grass {Poa Jluitans). A native of this country, 

 and common throughout Europe and Australia. It grows 

 in water. Its seeds are sweet, and the substance called 

 "manna croup" is made from them in Poland and Ger- 

 many. 



Guinea Corn, or Millet [Sorghum vulgare). This is exten- 

 sively cultivated in tropical and subtropical countries, and 

 was known in Palestine in the time of Ezekiel.* It is made 

 into a kind of bread, and in India is known by the name 

 " dhourra." It has some resemblance to " Indian corn," but 

 is not so strong, producing its small grains in long cylindrical 

 heads. Carpet brooms and some brushes are made from the 

 stiff seed spikes. 



* Ch. iv. ver. 9. 



