CORN. 
171 
CORN. 
RICHES. 
Corn is a term applied to all sorts of grain fit 
for food, particularly wheat, barley, oats, and 
rye. All of them belong to the grand division 
of grasses, which are distinguished from other 
plants by their simple, straight, unbranched 
stalk, hollow, and jointed, commonly called 
straw; with long, narrow, tapering leaves, placed 
at each joint of the stalk, and sheathing and en¬ 
closing it, as if by way of support. 
Ceres, the goddess of corn and harvest, was 
represented with a garland of ears of corn on her 
head, the commemoration of the loss of her 
daughter Proserpine was celebrated about the 
beginning of harvest; that of her search after her 
at the time of sowing corn. 
Botanists assure us that corn is not found 
any where in its primitive state. This plant, 
together with the use of fire, seems to have 
been bestowed by Providence on man, in order 
