FERNS, FOSSILS AND FUEL 
the most common cereal of antiquity. It was well known 
to the ancient Egyptians, and grains of it have been 
found with their mummies. It has been raised more 
or less successfully over the entire temperate portion of 
the Old World, and was introduced into the New World 
soon after the discovery of America. 
Barley ( Hordeum distich on) : Barley is among the 
most ancient of cultivated plants. It originated in the 
Old World and is now grown successfully in all temper¬ 
ate lands. There are several species besides Hordeum 
distichon. 
Rye ( Secale cereale ): Rye is comparatively new as a 
cultivated cereal. It has not been under cultivation exten¬ 
sively many centuries, unless perhaps in Russia. The an¬ 
cient Greeks were not acquainted with it. In Rome it 
became known about 100 A. D. An Old World plant, 
it is now at home in the New as well. 
Oats ( Arena sativa): This cereal, popular mostly 
among horses, was known to the ancient Greeks and 
Romans, but does not appear to have been known in 
China until about 900 A. D. It, too, quickly made itself 
at home in the New World. 
Millet ( Panicum miliaceum) : This is one of the minor 
cereals. The cultivation of the plant goes back to pre¬ 
historic times in the south of Europe, in Egypt, and in 
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