THE PRINCIPLES OF BOTANY. 
15 
over a great part of the world, we shall not be surprised at a 
large increase in its consumption. As regards the value of 
maize as a soiling plant, we are without any evidence beyond 
our own experiments, and they lead us to conclude that, even 
in seasons when the grain has no chance of ripening, a large 
quantity of green food can be grown, and, as we know from 
experience that cows relish it exceedingly, we should advocate 
its growth as cattle food. 
** We have now come to the conclusion of our notes on the 
recognised cereal forms of grasses, and, considering the large 
list of this order of plants in different parts of the world, it is 
astonishing that the cereal forms should be so few. Still, 
however, it has been made obvious that what has been want- 
ing in species has been amply made up for by a multitude of 
varieties, these being adapted to almost every soil and 
climate ; and this is especially true with regard to the three 
most valuable forms, wheat, barley, and oats. Again, these 
have a wide adaptability to the wants and requirements of 
man and the animals by which he is surrounded. So that a 
contemplation of corn-grasses leads us to infer, not that they 
were originally created in all their varieties for the use of 
man, but rather that they were originally endowed with such 
properties as that they could readily be made subservient to 
man's use. 
The cereals, then, may be said to have an interest for all. 
Their botany is curious and interesting ; no less so their 
history, a history almost coeval with that of man himself. 
Their chemistry is now a matter of great moment, for though 
such a natural family they are very variously constituted, and 
it is a matter of the greatest moment to those upon whom 
the well-being of animals depends to study these facts in all 
their details. 
It must be remembered, too, that in considering the uses 
of the cereal grasses, we have to think of the best products 
of corn, as flour from wheat, the “ offal" as gurgeons, and bran 
from the same besides the straw. Straw is every year be- 
coming more important as a feeding material ; and as there 
is reason to think that some years it is worth twice as much 
as it is in others, we have even in this a matter of grave 
consideration. The very mention of “ fodder" leads to our 
next subject, namely, pasture-grasses, with which we hope to 
commence in the next number of the Veterinarian. 
