132 TENTH EVERINSS.

aons. Most of the grass tribe tiave something of
these, but they are much longer in some kinds than in
others. In barley, you know, they are very long, and
give the whole field a sort of downy or silky appcar-
ance, especially when waved by the wind.

Hf, Are there the same kinds of corn and grass in
all countries ?

T. No. With respect to corn, that is in all coun-
tries the product of cultivation; and different sorts
are found best to suit different climates. Thus in the
northern parts of the temperate zone, oats and rye are
chiefly grown. In the middle and southern, barley
and wheat. Wheat is universally the species pre-
ferred for bread-corn; but there are various kinds of
it, differing from each other in size of grain, firmness,
colour, and other qualities.

ff, Does not the best wheat of all grow in
England ?

Z. By no means. Wheat is better suited to the
warmer climates ; and it 1s only by great attention, and
upon particular soils, that it 1s made to succeed well
here. On the other hand, the torrid zone is too hot
for wheat and our other grains; and they chiefly cul-
tivate rice there and Indian corn, or maize.

G. I have seen heads of Indian carn, as thick as
my wrist, but they do not look at all like our corn.

Z’. Yes—the seeds all grow single, in a sort of
chaffy head ; and the stalk and leaves resemble those
of the grass tribe, but of a gigantic size. But there
are other plants of this family, which perhaps you
have not thought of. |

G. What are they?

Z. Canes and reeds—from the sugar-canes and
bamboo of the tropics, to the common reed of our
ditches and marshes, of which you make arrows. All
these have the general character of the grasses.

Hf. I know that reeds have very fine, feathery heads,
hke the tops of the grass.

i. They have so. And the stalks are composed of